ABSTRACT
Contrary to a pessimistic forecast by the Ministry officials themselves, the new building was completed before schedule around New Year, 1967, and well under the ten years they had prophesied. The organizations moved in during the Easter recess of 1967 and opened the doors of their new home unofficially for work in the week after Easter. The five-storey building standing in considerable grounds was soon christened
by our witty friend Geoffrey Gorer 'the Freud Hilton'! A tribute is certainly in place to Mr F. A. C. Maunder and his architectural staff for producing such an imaginative design in a period when glass and concrete boxes are the rule. He was assisted and advised by consulting engineers, Messrs Tintern, J ones & Partners, in association with Mr R. C. Hodge, the Regional Engineer; consulting structural engineers were Messrs Andrews, Kent and Stone and the quantity surveyors Messrs Young & Brown. The general building contractors were Pitchers Ltd, whose boards were seen on the site during the building. There were also various sub-contractors, Benham & Sons Ltd on the mechanical side and Electrical Installations Ltd on the electrical side. The latter was important to us with our more elaborate recording and one-way viewing systems in the new building, and a filming unit with special construction also installed.
