The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-01

IfOt. a. ID. F. Hamlin, of Columbia
university, New York who was the
advisor of the trustees of the Young
Mems Christian association in the
matter of selecting plans for the new
building for the association to be
erected at Washington avenue and
Mulberry street, has submitted the
following written report to the trus-
tees of the Young Mems Christian as
sociation:
To the trustees of the Young Mems
Christian Association, of Scranton,
Pa.
Gentlemen:-ln compliance with your
invitation communicated to me by your
general secretary. Mr.. George c. Mahy.
TO act as your expert adviser i'm award
ing the prizes for competitive designs
for the proposed new building for your
Association and in accordance with
paragraph NJ of your General Instruc-
tions for the competition. | have ex-
amined the designs received. and here
with submit my report and conclusions
The substance of this report I have
| already communicated to you verbally
at your session of October 21st. now
nave the honor of presenting it in writ
ten form
Forty-four plans were submitted for
received within the allotted time. All
had been presented in proper form and
had been opened and marked with dis
tinSuishing numbers as provided in
pal alagraph y of the instruction. Hav-
ing disposed the forty-four sets of
drawings in the most convenient man
| ner for examination, I made a prelim-
| mary inspection to ascertain whether
any had in any way violated the terms
- 4 10 n h ,
remarkable fact. that not a single Vio-
lauon of the conditions laid down in
the circlar of General Instructions,
was found in all the 352 drawings sub
mitted.
SELECTING THE BEST PLANS.
| then took the plans of the first,
! second and third story from each of the
~ sets, and re-eXamined them carefully
with reference to (a) the general
scheme or disposition of the chief ele-
ments of the building; (b) the conven-
iences and fitness of the reception
| room or rotunda, and surrounding Of
fees and (c) the evidence of architect
ural ability and skill shown by the
handling of the details of the plan
ming. Every design that held out any
prospect of superiority in any respect
was laid aside for further considera-
ton; all others were returned to their
portfolios as not possessing sufficient
merit to warrant further examination.
This decision was, however in no case
reached until the five other drawings
of the same set had been also examined
Tor possible traces of superior merit
not discernible in the three already In
spected. In no case did this result in
changing the verdict An impractic-
able scheme in the three lower stories
could hardly fail to Vitiate the whole
design.
AS the result Of this preliminary COM
| parison eleven designs were found
worthy of a second examination
| Among these were representatives Of
nearly every scheme or type of plan
! to be found among the whole A. men
! ton this as evidence that no personal
precOnception as to the proper arrange
| ment of parts or general type
| of building had operated in the
| selection of these eleven plans
| But in the final comparison it
! became necessary to be much more ex-
acting as to the practical availability
of the designs, and it at once became
| obvious that no design in which the
| auditorium was placed over the gym
| nasium could be recommended for
! adoption. Not only is this argument
| emphatically condemned by the eXper-
! ience of those associations which have
| adopted it, but it is expressly advised
| against in the general inspection. But
while this would prevent the awarding
| of the first place to such a design, II
might by superiority of merit in other
respects deserve one of the second
! prizes, and such proved to be the case
with the design No. r.
CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
In this final examination not only
We're all the drawings of each design
carefully examined and compared with
| the programme of the general inStruc-
tions but each was compared with the
rest, floor by floor, so that every possl-
! BILE merit and defect was brought to
light. Everything germane to the
award was carefully considered and
weighed in the balance; correct funda-
mental scheme, arrangement of stores,
auditorium, gymnasium, secretary's
offices, and reception room, club rooms,
institute and lodgings; simplicity and
! straightforwardness in the planning
practicability of simple construction;
| artistic effect of the interior arrange
ment; expression and character of the
exterior; approximation of the cubic
contents, and other like considerations
AS a result of this careful scrutiny
the design No. q appeared to be con-
| SpicuouSly the best, and to merit the
first prize of 81, 900 for it's excellent
ming, the admirable arrangement in de-
tail of all its parts, it's pleasing cxter-
| iOr, and the singular and mastery
! economy of space it displays. 1t Is
| hereby warmly recommended for erec.
tion, subject to such notifications as
may result from conference between
yourselves and the architect.