Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-08

The building will front on Forbes street
with length of 400 feet, and the average
width will be $50 feet A detailed esti-
! mate of the cost of construction including
per cent commission for the architect has
been submitted by local contractor, and it
bears out the architects statement that the
building can be erected for the 500, 900 pro-
vided for it by Mr.. Carnegie's million dol
lar gift. The remaining $500. 900 have been
set aside for the proposed branch libraries
The commission contracted to select six
other designs out of the contest which, in
their Judgment, should be next best under
the specifications, the designers thereof to
receive premium of $1,000 each. Three
other Pittsburg architects come in for these
premiums. The successful competitors, in
their alphabetical order, are as follows:
Frank I. Cooper, Pittsburg; W. S. Fraser.
Pittsburg; Kreis & Richards, New York;
George r. Mann, st. Louis; James T. Steen,
Pittsburg; Shepley, Rutan 81 Coolidge,
Boston.
Granite Will Probably Be Used.
As the illustration shows, the adopted
design is a two-story building with base
ment, the architects taking advantage of the
formation of the ground to make the base
ment full story in depth on the rear or
park side. The towers shown will probably
be replaced with some other style of orna-
mental figure, as Mr.. Carnegie has ex-
pressed his disapproval of towers on the
proposed building. The commission has
already had prepared copy of the plan
with the tower features eliminated. 1t is
also more than probable that instead of
brick and stone the building will be con-
structed of granite. Mr.. Carnegie has sew
eral times expressed himself in favor of a
granite building. and has intimated his
willingness to increase the donation suffi-
GENTLY to cover the extra expense. None
of the LOG plans submitted could be built of
granite for 500, 900, and it is estimated that
in order to change the adopted design to
granite would increase the cost 800, 900.
1t is expected that Mr.. Carnegie will
furnish this amount, though he has made no
formal offer to do so.
The features of the Longfellow, Alden &
Harlow design which won the approval of the
commission were its compactness and con-
venience of interior arrangement, economy
of space, general adaptability to require
ments and the possibility of constructing
the building with the money allotted for it.
The perspective or exterior view did not
cut much of figure with the commission
in making its selection. There were many
other designs in the exhibition that were
of more beautiful appearance, but the gen.
al af ba ecyo hot
combined so many good features in the
useful interior. They say also that the
picture of the building does not convey an
idea of its beauty as will be shown when it !
is completed.
description of the Grand Music Hall.
The details of the first floor of the build |
ing include the grand music hall, fronting
to the east on Belle6eld avenue, with a |
grand entrance. 1t will have two balcon-
les, one above the other, and will have a |
seating capacity of about 500. A foyer of |
generous dimensions extends in a semi-cir- |
Gle around the rear of the auditorium. The |
stage has good depth and large enough to |
accommodate comfortably a chorus of 400 |
persons A solid three-foot wall separates
the music hall from the balance OF the
building to prevent sound from penetrating
beyond. Large-sized dressing or chorus |
rooms are located on each side of and in
rear of the stage. Next to the music hall.
in the center of the main front, is located
the circulating library, with large reading
rooms and capacity for storing %, 600 vol
umes, to be used as a circulating library for
the convenience of that section of the city.
In the west end of the building provision is
made for the various scientific societies,
each science having large room allotted to
it, and all cut off from the library rooms
with solid wall. The floor is so arranged
that each department has its own entrance,
although interior communication is also
provided
In the center of the first floor rises grand
stairway to the second floor, on the east ex-
treme Of which are the balconies of the 1
music hall. In the central part of this floor
is located the big circulating library, with
a capacity for 240, 900 volumes, and with
numerous small reading rooms, special
libraries and q large general room. Lying
between the big library and the music hall
is the art gallery, fronting Forbes street
and running the full depth of the building
Both the library and art gallery ere ar
ranged SO they can be extended when oc-