Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-21
Plansfo Constructing Column
bian University Buildings.
THE VAN NESS ESTATE
GROUND INSUFFICIENT FOR I'M
PROVEMENTS DESIRED.
President Needham to Select Board of
Architects at Earliest
Practicable Date.

Work on the first building of the Greater
Columbian University Will be begun be-
fore the Christmas holidays If the present
plans of the management are carried out
as proposed. 1t is expected that the sale
of the Van Ness estate to the university
will be consummated early in October
Within a few weeks from today President
Needham expects to have selected a board
composed Of architects of this and other
cities, which will submit to the directors
of the university ideas for the style of
architecture to be followed and suggestions
as to the kind of building material to be
used. This board. the president stated to-
day. will be composed of five or seven per-
sons, no decision having been reached as
to the number. President Needham also
stated that since the purchase of the Van
Ness property it has been found that 1t
will not meet the demands for the enlarge
ments and improvements planned for the
greater university, and for this reason 1t
has become necessary to purchase an ad-
dtional site. He said that the plans for
purchasing were so immature that he could
say nothing concerning the probable To-
cation, except that it would be convent
entity situated in relation to that already
selected. 1t is understood that options
have been secured and deposits made, pend
ing the occupation of this property.
The Courts Action.
An order was issued by the courts in the
Van Ness litigation under date of August
8, to show cause why the offer of the CO.
lumbar University should not be accepted
and the estate sold to the university. At
the expiration of sixty days. if no objection
to the sale shall be interposed, it will be
effected and the estate will pass wholly into
the possession Of Columbian. deposit,
which has hitherto held the property. will,
of course be included in the purchase price.
AS soon as the sale is made, says President
structing the first building will be made
and the cornerstone will be laid within
a month after.
Although no work on permanent plans
for the Van Ness quadrangle has been COM
pleted. President Needham has drawn up
tentative plans in outline, which represent
his ideas for the improvements. He has
formed no opinion regarding the style of
architecture, stating to Star reporter,
this morning that in view of the fact that
1t was the intention of the management of
the university to put up buildings entirely
In keeping with the plans for identifying
the national capital, and at the same time
to follow lines that will admit of indefinite
extension, only the opinions of skilled archi-
tects will be considered.
The presidents plans do not touch upon
the style of architecture. His drawings
show four buildings on the Van Ness estate,
the largest of which faces on 18th street
This structure will probably be made the
handsomest of the four, because it will
face the new driveway which is being con-
structed according to the plans Of the
park commission, and because the gate to
I he ri il will
be at the corner of 18th and Streets
which IS also the corner of the estate The
building will be about 400 feet long and
three stories high. A smaller building will
one on B street. M. Needham also plans
for court, 200 by 300 feet in the center
of the quadrangle. Around this there will
pI obably be a cloister walk.
The building facing on 18th street will
the offices of the university, besides
a number of class rooms, much greater
than is contained in the old building on 10Th
and H streets northwest. The third floor
of this building will probably be given up
to dormitOrieS. 1t Is estimated by President
Needham that the four buildings will &C
thousand students, in the arts
and sciences. although there will not be
dormitories for that many on the property.
The laboratories of the university will not
be upon this site.
1t will very likely be between two and
three years before these four buildings are
completed. Work on the other three will be
begun as soon possible President Need
ham stated that the property on which the
old university now stands will be disposed
of as soon the new buildings are far
enough along to be occupied. and that the
money realized by the sale will be used in
carrying out the new plans
Proceeding With Deliberation.
1t is the intention Of the management OF
the university, 1t is understood to proceed
with the building very slowly. though with
out undue delay. President Needham said
he hoped that by making haste slowly
no mistakes will be made to be discovered
by future generations. The authorities of
the university are busy preparing for the
opening Of the college term. The enroll
ment for the coming term has been crafty
ingly large, and President Needham Is en-
as to the Columbians future
When the college matters are in control and
the season well under way the president will
devote most of his time to the enlargement
of the university. Nothing short of ma
tional university will satisfy the authorities
and 1t is claimed. their anticipations are