The Topeka state journal., 1899-07-12
NO RESTRICTIONS
Architects Allowed Latitude
In City Hall Plans.
May Arrange Buildings as Suits
Their Fancy.
NEW INSTRUCTIONS.
City Council Adopts New Rules
For Competition.
General Terms Remain as Orig
inalIy Accepted.
7 INSTRUCTIONS.

The building committee of the city
council has made an amended report
inviting architects to submit plans for
the new city building. The report which
was adopted at the meeting Tuesday
evening after it had been amended in
several important particulars is as fol-
lows:
Topeka, July 11th, 1899.
The mayor and council Of the city Of
Topeka hereby invite architects to sub
nit to them at their meeting on August
9TH, 1892 competitive preliminary floor
plans, elevations, perspectives and ap-
proximate estimates of cost of a build
ing or connected buildings for fire de-
partment headquarters, municipal Of
fees and auditorium, to be located on
the three fractional and nine full lots
on the southeast corner OF seventh and
Quincy streets, the municipal offices to
consist of approximately twenty-five
rooms and to contain approximately TO-
900 square feet of floor space. The aud
itorium to contain suitable committee
and other rooms and cOnveniences, and
to seat from four to five thousand peO-
pie.
The floor plans of the fire department
headquarters to be furnished by the
fire marshal
Said building or buildings to cost not
to exceed the approximate sum of $685.
600.
From the meritorious plans submitted
the mayor and council will select three.
If so many there be, and for the best OF
the three, will pay the sum of three
hundred dollars; for the second best the
sum of two hundred dollars, and for the
third best the sum of one hundred dol
lars. The winner of the first prize in
the competition may be employed to as
sist the city engineer in the preparation
of final plans and specifications for, and
in the supervision of the construction of
such building or buildings, so far as his
services may be needed or desired in
that behalf; his compensation, if so en-
plOyed, to be determined by agreement
between the mayor and council and him
self
All prize winning plans shall become
and remain the property of the city Of
Topeka. and such use may be made
thereof as the mayor and council may
desire.
The mayor and council reserve the
right to reject any and all plans.
After Chairman Nettels had read the
report he said that the Instructions be-
fore adopted were considered too in
definite and it was considered best to
submit another report.
Councilman Warner thought that the
council should allow the architects lat
ttude in making their plans.
Councilman Elliott said he thought
the money should all be paid to one
architect instead of three.
Councilman Willard said: ''I consid-
er 1t good pIa4 to leave that as it is.
we may want to use ideas from all the
plans but 1 think that we should allow
the architects the greatest possible lati-
tude. It is possible that some plan will
be devised that will suit US better than
that already suggested. Let US allow
the architects to make their own ar
rangement."
Councilman Nettels-This is simply
advisory.
Councilman Willard-But it seems to
me If we express a preference the arch
fleets may consider that they have to
follow our suggestion in order to have
their plans accepted.
cost named, $3.50 900 was too much
Mayor Drew said he believed that the
architects should be allowed to follow
their own wishes.
Councilman Nettels said il was neces-
sary to have some instructions.
Councilman Willard thought they
might ind out by inquiry what is
wanted.
Councilman Nettels replied that there
was too much diversity of opinion
among the members of the council
which would result in unlimited con-
fusion.
The report was adopted after the
number of rooms for the city hall pro-
per was placed at % instead of 80 and
other changes to make the instructions