Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
PLANS IN COMPETITION
Architects Designs for New
Municipal Building.
THE BOARD OF AWARD
TWELVE PARTICIPANTS AND
CONTEST ENDS TODAY.
Cost Of Building Limited to 5000, 900
Each Competitor Submits
One Set.

The competition plans for the new DIS.
trict building, which is to be erected on
the old powenhouse site. the square bounded
by 1871 and 14th and D and e streets north
west. fronting also on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., were opened this afternoon at o'clock
at the present home OF the District govern
ment, the rented building on Louisiana ave-
nue.. The plans were opened by the board Of
award appointed by the commission placed
in charge Of the new building-the Commits
sioners OF the District and the Secretary of
the Treasury. The members of the board OF
award are: Col John Biddfe, Engineer
Commissioner Of the District; Mr.. ]. Knox
Taylor. the supervising architect Of the
treasury. VINO Is also the professional adj
wiser Of the commission; Mr.. d. H. Burn
ham of Chicago. who was a member of the
Senate parking commission; Mr.. r. S. Pea
body OF Boston. and Mr.. George B. Post OF
New York.
The members Of this board, other than
Mr. Taylor, who Is in government employ
are to receive the sum Of $3.50 each for their
services in judging the contest. They are
architects who stand high in their profess
the municipal building contest they are at
tending the annual meeting Of the American
Institute of Architects.
The plans submitted in the competition
rived at the District building last Monday,
the 9Th instant. that being the last day for
their submittal under the terms of the pro-
gram Of competition.
There were no distinguishing marks upon
the great packages, each Of which contain
q set OF plans. and the identity Of the
authors will not be known until the award
Is made and the opaque envelope contain
Ing the name Of the architect is unsealed.
In considering the plans in the contest
they are known simply by numbers. Any
tags or labels which might distinguish the
out-of-toWE competitors plans from those
OF the local architects were removed prior
TO submitting the drawings to the board.
Twelve Participants.
seven local architects have participated
In the competition and Ave from out-of-
town, making a total OF twelve. They are
as follows: Glenn Brown, Hornbiower Il
Marshall. Marsh & Peter, William A. Poin-
dexter, Robert Stead. Wood & Deming
James G. Hill. all Of this city; Ed. P.
Casey, Helms & LIE Fargo and Albert r.
Ross Of New York; A. w. Longfellow of
delphia.
. The competition was what Is known as an
invitation affair. The twelve architects
named above were invited by the District
uniform sum of $500 will be paid to each of
the competitors invited, with the under
standing and agreement that the archit ,ct
or architects whose design shall be placed
first will be awarded the commission for
carrying out the work at a fee to be COM
puted on the basis of the schedule Of
charges adopted by the American Institute
OF Architects, which commission is to be
paid on all work necessary to complete the
building ready for occupancy. mural paint
ing and furniture alone excepted.
The plans submitted by the various archi-
tects call for classic structure. occupying
the entire space OF the square. In order to
meet the demands for space made by the
various branches of the District govern
ment 1t was found necessary to cover the
area Of the square and to also bring the
building up to the maximum height OF 100
feet. The program Of the competition re-
quired that the designs Of the buildings
should be based upon the English renais-
sance. modified to suit modern requirements.
The board of award felt 1t wise to impose
this condition in view of the general char
acter OF the department buildings surround
ing the proposed municipal structure,
which, with the government buildings to be
erected in the future, should form a single
composition.
Cost Limited to 5000, 900.
The cost OF the new building was limited
in the program to $500 600. 1t Is quite GER
tain. however, that an excess of this sum
will be required for carrying out the char
acter Of the building which Is to be erected.
The interior OF the new home OF the Dis
trict government is to be finished generally
in the same manner Of a modern, first class
Office structure.
In view of the fact that the principal
frontage Of the building Is to be on the
north and that the structure Is practically
located on Pennsylvania avenue and will
be exposed to view from all sides, the ar
chitects In the composition have SO studied
the subject and SO arranged the plans as
to make the structure pleasing from every
direction. The building will. Of course, be
strictly fireproof.
The competing architects were allowed
to submit only one set OF plans, no alter
nate designs being considered. Each set
Of plans consisted Of q plan Of each of the
five floors prescribed by the program and
the basement; elaborate drawings, showing
the detail OF the front elevation: sketch
elevations Of the rear of the building and
one side and block section through the
building, showing the heights OF stories
and proportions of the most important
rooms.