The herald., 1895-06-09
It Will Cost About Twenty
Thousand Dollars
ARCHITECTS STILL COMPLAIN
They Object to the Proposed Method of
Building
A Communication Suggesting Ways and
Means Sent to Members Of the School
Board and the Council

The joint committee from the council
and the board of education met yester-
day for the purpose of considering the
plans for heating and ventilating the
various proposed new school houses. The
representatives of the firms from Gin
cinnati, Oakland and from Los Angeles,
were on hand to submit prices for the
work proposed. The Baker Iron Works
and f. +. Browne were on hand to up
hid home industry. No definite conclu-
sions were reached by the committee.
The committee is still being over
whelmed by the members of the South
srn California chapter of architects, who
protest against the awarding of the plans
and specifications for the new school
buildings as has been proposed but not
recommended. The architects have sent
to every mem Der of the council and board
OF education the following communica-
tiOa:
Gentlemen In view of the fact that
school houses and other municipal build
ings for the city of Los Angeles are now
to be erected, ana inasmuch as works of
this character are universally considered
exponents of the artistic and architect
ural tastes of a municipality. and as such
demand the most modern and i'm proved
methods of planning and construction.
it behooves the promoters OF these works
to observe for the com mon welfare the
following suggestions:
Each structure should be of a separate
type, distinguishable in character and
design. The methods employed in few
cases of general duplication have merited
and received much criticism from our
eastern visitors.
The excellence and perfection of mod
err school bouse construction in many
eastern cities has been attained by gen
eral com petition, the- competitors wing
with each other in their efforts to pro.
duce the best work. with the full knowl
edge that the conditions and rates of
commission as indorsed by the American
Institute of Architects would insure the
acceptance Of good work only.
As the erection of so many important
structures will have marked and lasting
effect OIL the beauty of the city and the
health of its children, we need not at
tempt to emphasize the necessity of OBJ.
tanning the best work possible. The best
work cannot be Obtained unless there sha
be general competition under such con-
ditions as will attract architects Of pro-
noun ced ability and experience who
have neither time nor inclination to en-
ter an unproiessiona scram BILE for public
work.
Therefore in order that there may be a
mutual understanding between the city
oiHclalS anu une afcn1teCtS VINO expect TO
compete for the designing and superin.
tending of the school houses and other
city buildings which it is proposed to
erect, the Southern California Chapter of
the American Institute of a rch tects h as
prepared this statement of rules for the
governing OF competition for such work,
which are in accordance with the ethics
of TIE profession. and which we believe
will call forth the best efforts of the local
architects These rules we respectfully
request your honorable body to adopt:
First-Each set of drawings submit tied
shall EN- brace floor plans and two eeva-
tions, which shall be plain geometrcal
drawings, drawn to scale of one-eighth
Of al inch to the foot, ana perspective
view produced from the one .ei g hth scale
plan, rendered in pencil.
Second-A type-written de 5criptio OF
the proposed building, containing not to
exceed 500 words.
Third--The drawings must be delivered
at - on or before twenty days from
date OF publication of advertisement for
plans.
We earnestly request that advertise
ment shall embody the following prov-
sions:
|. That two premiums be given ior
the building or alterations of buildings
OH each respective site as recently voted
for. to be improved under the bond act
The author OF the best plan for each site
receiving as the first premium his en-
ployment on the part of the city to rem
der full architectural services for said
building at the rate of AZ per cent on
the cost of construction. The author of
the second best plan in each case to re-
cevo as second premium the amount of
one half OF l per cent on the proposed
cost OF the work
.. That in the adoption of the various
plans your honorable bouy secure the
services OF disinterested architect or
builder to act with the city superipte nd.
eyt of buildings. who shall be Sc elected bv
the majority vote Of all competing archi-
tects.
The above is signed by thirty-nine ar
chitects. Building Superintendent Strange
says that if the proposed buildings are
to he erected under his supervision, he
must have assistance to perform his reg
ular duties.
The estimates for heating and ventllat-
ing the new buildings is placed in the
neighborhood OF $50, ,0G0. and according
to Indications the work can easily be
done for the sum named