The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-29
NEW SKY-SCRAPER SURE
CONTRACT LET TO THE ARCHITECTS
FOR ODD FELLOWS BUILDING.
Structure to Cost Over 1925, 900, and
Will BE Ten Stories High
work In Spring.

Messrs. George Shirts of Noblesville; T.
II. Stevenson, of Greensburg; H. G. Thayer,
of Plymouth and U. x. Wiley. John F. Wal
lick, James A. Wildman and w H. Leedy,
of indianapolis, constituting the building
committee of the Grand Lodge Independent
Order Of Odd Fellows, met yesterday and
adopted plans for the new building. which
is TO be erected on the site of the present
Grand Lodge Hall, at the northeast corner
of Pennsylvania and Washington streets.
The work Of getting funds for the new
building and adopting the plans has occu-
pied number of months, during which fire.
quent meetings of the building committee
have been held and many subcommittee
have been appointed. There was at first
great difficulty in seeing the way clear
financially and there was a complication
which came near defeating the project. The
building and ground now used by the Grand
Lodge is held in the name of the Grand
Lodge Building Association, and there was
some legal reason why bonds could not be
sold or loan negotiated as long as the
title of the property rested in that fashion.
But this difficulty was overcome and there
was no trouble in making arrangements for
the loan necessary for the erection Of the
new building.
Last summer the architects of the coun-
try were invited to enter into a competition
and plans were received from a dozen or
more firms. But three of these came with
in the ideas of the building committee, and
between these che committee had difficulty
in choosing. They were from Henry Ives
Cobb, of Chicago; Rush e. Son, of Grand
Rapids. and Vonnegut & Bohn, of this city.
Mr.. Cobb withdrew from the competition,
and then a subcommittee, composed of
Messrs. Wiley, Wallick and Thayer. was
appointed to settle the matter through the
opinion of an expert and disintefested archi-
tect of the committees own choosing. The
committee, after careful investigation, sent
the plans prepared by Rush & Son and
Vonnegut & Botn to Clark & Loomis, of
Louisville. The plans had no distinguish
ing mark that might identify them, but
were simply Nos. l and 2. Yesterday the
report of this expert firm Of architects was
received. 1t has been the agreement with
the two competing firms Of architects and
the building committee that the award was
to be made on the report Of the experts.
That report gave detailed reason for the
adoption of the plans marked No. 2, chief
among them being that the building erected
under these plans would be more imposing
it is intended. No. was the plan of Rush
81 Son.
THE CONTRACT SIGNED.
A contract was at once entered into with
Rush & Son and the firm is to become the
supervisors Of the erection of the building.
There will be some little delay before con-
tracts for the work can be let, and it may
be that the actual work of tearing down the
old building will not begin until spring.
There are number of minor changes to be
made in the plans. For this a subcommit-
tee. composed of Messrs. Shirts and Leedy,
was appointed. These gentlemen will con-
fer at once with the architects and get all
the changes made as soon as possible.
Specifications will then be prepared and adj
vertisement made for bids on various con-
tracts.
The new building will cost from 1926, 900
to $247 900. Three materials are being con-
sidered for the outside of the building and
the cost is different for EACH If Indiana
ooltic is used the minimum figure will pay
for the building. If gray granite is selected
the maximum inquire VIII be the cost. Lake
1t would bring the cost between the other
two.
The building, when completed, no mat
ter which Of the three stones is used, will
be the most imposing structure and the
highest building in the State. it is claimed.
Though having only ten stories as against
twelve in the Stevenson building, the new
building will be twelve feet higher than the
Washington-street sky-scraper. The first
story will be for business rooms. The Sec
ond to the eighth inclusive, will be for
offices, the ninth will be arranged for sub
ordinate lodges and the tenth floor is in
tended for the Grand Lodge. The building
will be modern in every sense. There will
be three rapid-running elevators and all
other conveniences to be found in up-to-date
buildings. The wainscoting throughout and
the stairways will be marble, and all the
hall floors will be tiled The floor of the
main entrance. which is to be on Pennsyl-
vania street, will be in mosaic
Recently building. which is to be oc-
cupied by jewelry store, was erected on
the lot adjoining the Grand Lodge building
on the north. No south wall was built for
the new structure, the supports for the floor
being stuck into the north wall of the Odd
Fellows building This was done with the
consent of the secretary of the lodge, 1t is
said, but It is also said that the people
erecting the new building were Informed
that the lodge building was to be torn down
soon. When the lodge building is torn down
the new building to the north will have no
south wall.