Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
New Building to Be Erected by the
Columbian University.
OF THE new REVENUE LAW
Relation of Architecture to Hot
Weather Comfort.
SOME NEW BUILDINGS

The new building which is to be erected
by the Columbian University for the of
the schools of law and diplomacy is to be
not only of attractive design, as shown by
the cut which accompanies this article, but
the interior arrangements are to be Of such
a character that the building will, it is be-
leved be one of the most complete of the
kind in the country. The architects, Messrs.
Hornblower & Marshall have made them
selves familiar with the requirements of a
building of this sort, and all the features
which modern needs require will be supplied.
The new structure will occupy the vacant
space belonging to the university on H street
near 18th street Immediately east of the
university building, and will have a 'front.'
age of sixty feet, and will have the same
depth. The design of the front will be SIM
pie in detail of the Italian type, and will be
worked out in brick of light color and terra
Gotta.
The Lecture Hall.
At the entrance there will be a porch
with the roof supported on columns. The
window openings will be specious and the
roof, with it's overhanging cornlce, will
tend to increase the effect of quiet dignity
which the general design of the building
will give. The first floor will be three or
four steps above the grade of the sidewalk,
with the entrance opening into a large and
commodious hallway. On one side of the
hall will be an office for the dean of the
law school and on the other side an Office
for the dean Of the school of comparative
Jurisprudence and diplomacy and an Office
for the secretary.
Across the entire south half of the build
Ing will be a large lecture room with 800
seats facing to the south, the seats to be
arranged in a semi-circle and the floor to
slope to the south side of the building
where the platform will be located.
The height OF the ceiling at the south side
of the room will be twenty feet. The
room will be thoroughly ventilated and
will have six windows opening out upon
three sides. 1t will be lighted by electricity
from the ceiling, SO that the light will be
evenly distributed.
The Second and Third Floors.
A broad staircase will lead to the second
floor. where there will be two rooms for
professors and two lecture rooms, each of
the latter to accommodate 100 students
In the third story there will be two court
rooms, one for equity and the other for
common law cases, with raised platforms
and desks for the judges, and with proper
arrangements for the clerks and students
in front. At the south will be a large libra
ry room nearly 80x60 feet, with a 17-foot
ceiling. A large fireplace will be one OF
the features of the room. and the walls
will be handsomely decorated.
Hot Weather Talk.
The few days Of hot weather that recent
ly have been tho experience of the people
Of this ci1y-and perhaps opinion would diff
fer as to the propriety of the use of the
word few in this connection--has no
doubt revived the annual discussion as to
the relative merits Of different sections Of
the city and the suburbs. Some people be-
come so deeply attached to the localities
where they have made their homes that
they have come to look upon them as the
most comfortable places in the world at all
seasons of the year.
1t is impossible for one Of this class to
hear any remarks about the dscomforts
attending hot weather without descanting
on the advantages of the particular locality
where his home happens to be. 1t is not
uncommon after night which the figures
Of the weather bureau show was rather
warm to hear a person of this sort say
that he had slept under one blanket or two
as his Imagination suggests.
There Ii n Difference.
People who live on the higher ground
surrounding the city are apt. at this season
Of the year, to commiserate with those
who live down in the city. as they term It,
while those who have gone out into the
suburbs delight to describe the arctic
weather which they enjoy when the Their
mometers everywhere else indicated an al
titude Of the mercury somewhere In the
nineties.
Whatever may be the merits of this con-
troversy which breaks out annually there
is no doubt of there being difference in
the comfort of houses. wherever located
Some houses are cold in winter, and of
course, it follows that they are also warm
or rather hot in summer. Perhaps the
house next door may show the reverse Of
these conditions.
People who seem to know about such
matters claim that there are several causes
which account for a dwelling house re-
sisting to large extent the influence of
heat and cold. Thin walls, it is generally
admitted, admit more cold in winter and
more heat in summer than thick walls.
Summer Arrangem ents.
1t is believed that II the interior ar
rangement of houses is such as to permit
the greatest freedom in the circulation of
air, such houses are. apt to be more COM
Portable when the heated term comes than
dwellings where the rooms are partitioned
or like boxes and there is no sweep
through the rooms. Then, again. it is
thought that the method generally fol-
lowed OF filling up part of the window
openings with immovable transom lights
and at least half of the RENAL ming .yanraton.