When I worked in an engineering office print room, I learned a lot about how printing worked, especially photocopying which is like printing. Years later, when I was commissioned to design the new Government Printing Office on the corner of Mary Street, I knew it would be a quick and easy job because of my background in printing and photocopying.

The brief was for a building that would house printing machines and photocopiers in long rows and other floors that had lots of wooden desks and chairs on wheels. I started work on the design in the morning and 30 minutes or so later it was entirely complete. I could hardly believe it took me that long. Of course, I employed some time-saving techniques. All the employees car parking is situated underground which meant there was no need to draw hundreds of cars parked around the foot of the building. And I didn’t draw the vertical and horizontal cross pieces on all of the windows. That would have taken forever and pushed the project over budget. Finally, all the photocopiers I put on the fourth level are black and white copiers because colour is far more expensive.

To celebrate how fast I designed this project, I included an atomic clock that virtually never loses time. The clock face took a lot of time to install, but I designed it in black which meant I didn’t need to buy extra paint and all that business.

I’m happy to say that the Government Printing Office came in well within budget and many months before the due date. Needless to say, the government saved millions because of this. Money that can be spent on much needed services like the Lottery and dog toilets in parks.

Clockface is visible toward the top of the southern wall facing Mary Street.