Evening star., 1903-09-17
THE DESIGN ACCEPTED
Important Step Towards Sc
curing High School Building
FOR BUSINESS BRANCH
ASSURANCE THAT COST WILL NOT
EXCEED APPROPRIATION.
B. Stanley Simmons of This City the
Successful Architect-Out-
line of Plans.

cepted the design submitted by Architect
B. Stanley Simmons of this city for the
new Business High School, which is to oc-
cupy, with its surrounding parking, all OF
the square bounded by Sth and 9th streets,
Rhode Island avenue and r street north
west. The site of the new school is in the
immediate vicinity of the Mckinley Manual
Training School, located at 7th street and
Rhode Island avenue, and is near the center
of population as fixed by the last United
States census.
From a series of seven sets of plans sub
mitted in competition by local architects
the jury of award, consisting of the Com
missioners and an architectural adviser. Sc
lected three designs, the order of excel
lence, as fixed by the judges, being B.
Stanley Simmons, first; julius Wenig, sec
ond and Frank H. Jackson, third.
1t was the opinion of the architectural
adviser that none of the plans could be car
ried out with the S16SOOO available for the
construction of the building. The Commits
sioners, instead of rejecting all plans, how
ever invited the three leading architects in
the competition to submit estimate showing
the figures upon which they had based their
calculations to bring their respective build
ings within the available appropriation.
Mr.. Simmons. who was Of course given
preference. has convinced the Commission
ers that his design be carried out safe
ly within the appropriation. He has for
warded an agreement with a local firm of
contractors who have erected many of the
finest school buildings of the city, in which
they bind themselves to construct the Busi-
ness High School in strict accordance with
Mr.. Simmons design and specifications ap
proved by the Commissioners for the sum
of $164, 500. Colonel Biddle, the Engineer
Commissioner. raised question to style
of brick offered by the contractor and Mr..
Simmons. but the contractor and architect
have stipulated to furnish the grade of
brick desired by the Commissioners and
this has been written into the agreement
Will Call for Bids.
The Commissioners will, of course, adver-
tise for bids, to see If lower figure than
that estimated by the contractors in ques-
ton can be secured. If no lower bids are
received the contractors submitting the es-
innate of $64, 800 will be called upon to
erect the building.
Col. Biddles recommendation in the mat
ter, which has been approved by Commits
sioner West, and represents complete action
by the District board is as follows:
I move that in accordance with the pro-
gram of competition for the Business High
School Mr.. E. Stanley Simmons be paid
$500 as the first prize and that he be direct
ed to prepare all necessary detail drawings
for letting the contract. Mr.. Simmons has
proven to my satisfaction, by submitting
estimates of builders who have erected a
number of school buildings for the District
of Columbia, that the building designed by
him can be constructed for the amount
available. If the contract is let within the
limit of cost l move that he be paid the
remaining 1000 provided by the program
of competition and that he be appointed to
supervise the erection of the building in
accordance with the terms of the program.
Il further move that Mr.. Jules Wenig
who was given second place by the consult
ing architect, be notified that in the opinion
ha ,voic ha hI1iId acf.
by him cannot be constructed for tho sum
stated and that unless he has further fig
ures to submit the award cannot be made
him under terms of the program
Rate of Compensation.
For his supervision of the structure Mr.
Simmons will receive compensation at the
rate Of 81 a day during construction, but
not to exceed in any event 500 days of
service. Mr.. julius Wenig will receive s4O0
as second prize, and Mr.. Frank H. jack
son $500 as third prize.
The new building will have its principal
entrance from Rhode Island avenue. There
will also be entrances from 9Th and 9th
streets. A court will open on r street
Mr. Simmons stated today that he expected
to have the detailed drawings ready by
October 1, and said there was reason
why a contract should not be entered into
and work begun within six weeks time
The style of architecture employed in the
English renaissance. A three-story build
ing was deemed advisable for the reasons
that it gives an elevation needed in this
class of structure costs less to build, pro-
portionately, than two-story building, and
is more economically heated and ventilated.
The location of the building in the square
will be on the building line of Rhode Island
avenue, where the width of the parking Is
twenty-five feet The structure will recede
from the building lines of Sth and 9TH
streets, so as to give uniform parking
width, the same as the Rhode Island 'front.'
The class rooms have been arranged
lengthwise along the front walls, that more
direct light may be had to greater. num-
Der of pupils. The gymnasium and tempo
rary drill hall Is entered from the first floor
with dressing rooms and shower baths at
either side, Immediately below cloak rooms
with provisions made for a future drill hall
above 1t.
Material for the Walls.
The outside walls will be built of hard
burned selected red bricks, according to the
modified specifications approved by the En-
gineer Commissioner and agreed to by the
architect and contractor. Gray brick and
limestone will be used in the trimmings.
The interior of the building is to be fin
ished throughout in the best quality of
short-leaf Virginia or North Carolina yell
low pine.
The building is to be for the accommoda-