The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 25

THE GAZETTE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1962 25 Own employee has a personal locker. Time and effort are spared employees through a fully- automatic pneumatic tube communication system which swiftly links all departments, This carries messages, letters and other correspondence which are dispatched to vari- ous destinations, by dialing a number code. MOVING i GOOD) Head office of The Royal Bank of Canada, one of the largest banks in the world, is now quartered at Place Ville Marie in Montreal. The 'Royal' traces its history back to May 2, 1864, when it opened for business in Halifax. The bank now serves all of Canada through 982 branches and Canadian interests abroad through 82 branches.

The executive offices and head office department are on the second, third and fourth floors of The Royal Bank of Canada Building. The Board Room of the bank is located in the east wing of the 41st floor, from which there is a breathtaking view of the city. Here, the 'Royal' has its executive dining facilities, lounge rooms are in the northeast quadrant. The southeast quadrant ton-tains other offices and facilities and a staff cafeteria. Taken altogether, the bank's new Montreal main branch with its 110,000 sq.

ft. may well be the largest branch bank in the world. Daylight and space are the the attributes that immediately strike the visitor to these banking halls. Although thoroughly mid-20th century in design and materials, the architecture of the banking hall is essentially classic in concept. The generous use of space and the monumental scale of the hall is in keeping with the principles established by ancient Greek builders.

Daylight floods the halls and a large foyer. The train entrance to both the banking halls and the head office of the bank is the west entrance to the building facing the Plaza. In the four "quadrants, the projecting stone structures located in the interior angles at the foot of the cruciform tower, the bank has established its new Montreal Main Branch. Six escalators connect the entrance lobby with the public banking halls. Measuring 302 ft by 122, ft.

as large as the average football field the banking hall extends across the two western quadrants. The principal vault, related departments such as safe deposit and safekeeping, and an assembly hall capable of seating 450 persons through 18 acrylic plastic domes in the cei'ing. Concealed sources of artificial light are arranged to simulate the effect of na'ural daylight from above. Light from the ceiling is distributed from dark cone spotlight fixtures which are electronically dimmed. Luminous ceilings above the counter areas provide gla-e-free lighting for staff and customers.

There are nine plastic domes on each of the four quadrants. Each is 8'6" wide and 8'6" long. Weighing 343 pounds each, a dome can support the weight of a man and is made up of two layers, the outerskin being 516th of an inch thick and the inner one inch thick. Apart from COMPANY "CP1 1 1 1 I I ntfor- "u-' 1 to. providing natural light, these domes afford a magnificent view of the tower.

Color have been chosen to harmonize with the cream travertine used on the floor and elevator banks. Interior walls are finished with gray Travernelle marble which matches the buff Indiana limestone of the exierior walls and gives the effect of a continuous wrap of stone, inside and out. Polished gTeen Italian Old Church marble on the counters contrasts with matte-finish white marble benches and balustrades in the central areas of the hall. The same white statuary marble is used to form the top of the counters at the tellers' positions. Air conditioning inlets and outlets have been concealed.

Air enters the hall through slits around the perimeter of the ceiling domes and is removed through vents concealed in the light fixtures. Easy to operate adding machines have been placed in two strategic spots in the Royal Bank's new Montreal Main Branch for the convenience of customers who have some figuring to do before conducting their business with the bank. Two-foot-thick, 30-ton steel doors guard each of the three entrances to the vault area. Despite their weight, the doors can be swung open or closed with a finger's pressure. A unique feature of the vaults is the self-levelling floor which moves downward as the door is opened or rises again to floor level.

The system a first in Canada eliminates the need for the ramp installed in most vaults." 'Royal' employees occupying the new quarters have available many facilities to help them enjoy both work and relaxation. A cafeteria seating 350 persons operates from 11.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and is capable of serving from 1,200 to 1,500 meals daily. There are rest rooms on the main banking floor, together with women's lounges on the second and fourth floors.

Each Kenwood's would like to thank the following companies for appointing them to handle their moving arrangements to the Place Ville Marie: AIR FRANCE ALUMINUM COMPANY OF CANADA BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORP. CANADA IRON FOUNDRIES LIMITED LUKIS STEWART PRICE FORBES AND COMPANY MITSUI AND COMPANY (CANADA) LIMITED. SHELL OIL COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA I 'rVs''V KT: jr, r-4. KENWOOD'S Care! KlINWOOD'S WESTMOUNT TRANSFER STORAGE LTD. 4221 ST.

CATHERINE W. WE 3-1113 The banking hall of the new Montreal main brand? in the new Royal Bank of Canada Building, Placa Ville Marie, extends the length and width of the two quadrants flanking the Royal Bank main entrance lobby on the Plaza side of the Place Ville Maris It is the si-e of a full football field but, despite the vastness, the specially chosen subdued decor retains for it an atmosphere of quiet and privacy 'that must surround banking operations. Over 55 years experience Agents for Allied Van Lines i PLUMBING HEATING VENTILATION AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERATION BY 5 (At' JOHN COLFORD CONTRACTING CO. LTD. KERBY SAUNDERS (CANADA) LTD.

A JOINT VENTURE MONTREAL CANADA fl v. 4. Typical Tun litem Main Kffrigemtia Machinery 42nd Floor.