Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-29
THEATER For THE INSANE
WORK ON NEW BUILDING HAS
ALREADY BEGUN.
It Will Seat 700 Patients and 800
Visitors, and Will De Thor
oughly Up to Date.

Work has been commenced on a new
assembly hall at the Government Hos
pital for the Insane, the building being
designed to provide a modern playhouse
where theatrical productions and other
entertainments are to be held as we'll as
proper quarters for assembly for religious
worship. The contract for the structure
was recently awarded to Pavarini &
Wynne of this city, whose bid was ap-
proximately $50, 900. and they have caused
the preliminary steps in the construction
of the hall to be taken within the past
few days.
The time within which the building is
to be completed and transferred to the
government comprises ten months. The
assembly hall will be situated at a point
central to the institution as whole, be-
ing in proximity to the extensions build
ings erected several years ago. In type
of construction 1t will conform closely to
these new structures, which are of brick
with tile roofs and limestone trimmings
The hall will be located on site almost
directly opposite the female nurses home
one of the new buildings, the two being
separated by considerable stretches of
lawn and roadways. The contractors
IL
work to remove number of fine maple
trees that have shaded that portion Of the
hospital grounds for a long time. They
have removed section of the fence that
fncloses the group of buildings known as
the detached buildings.
The erection Of an assembly hall of this
type has been urged by DR.. William A.
White. the superintendent of the hospital,
since 1905, when he submitted his first
estimate to Congress for the erection of
the building. The following year Con-
gress granted an appropriation of SIS, 900
for the work, but when plans had been
prepared and bids examined thereon it
was found that the lowest bid far ex-
ceeded the amount of the appropriation.
Another appeal was made to Congress.
which body last year increased the ap-
preparation by $4,000, and bids were
again called for, with the result stated
above.
A great deal of thought has been exer-
cised in the production of the plans for the
new building, and the expectation Is that a
model playhouse will be the outcome. The
plans have been prepared by the Sunder-
land Brothers of this city. who received
the award in a competition between fifteen
architects from this and other cities. The
assembly hall will be surrounded by a
broad terrace. the ascent of which will af-
ford direct entrance to the building. There
are three entrances provided In the front.
so as to allow the patients to enter by
admitted through the two side doors, from
which places staii ways will lead to the
balcony.
The auditorium. where the patients will
be seated, will have a seating capacity of
7CO, while the balcony, where visitors will
be accommodated. will contain about 300
people. BY this method the visitors and
the patients will be kept entirely sepa-
rate while the building is being used.
The main floor will also at times be used
H. x.,f11 ha al
and the chairs placed underneath the
stage. There will be basement Hobbies
and dressing rooms. In the basement
can be served refreshments and edibles
that might follow an entertainment in the
hall.
Fire Protection.
Special consideration has been given to
the matter of fire protection in this struc-
ture The assembly hall will be q fire.
proof building. reinforced concrete being
used for columns, balconies. stage and
roof construction in this effort. With
the assembly room on the first floor Of
the building, as it Is planned, many exits
can be provided, and as far as inmates OF
the asylum are concerned this affords an
easier way to escort them out In case Of
danger from fire than were stairways In
place. Appliances that will be utilized In
the construction of the hall to limit the
danger from fire are automatic sprinklers.
automatic skylight. asbestos and water
curtains With this equipment on and
about the stage. which will be separated
from the auditorium by a brick wall, there
will be little chance for flames to gain any
Roadway.
The new hall will supplant the present
chapel and assembly hall. in the old sec
ton Of the hospital, on the fourth floor
of the former administration building.
which has been in use almost since the
opening of the institution in 1854. The
amusement features at the hospital are
extensive and varied in the course of the
season. with dances, holiday entertain
ments. PLAYS and concerts. Weekly af-
fairs of this character will bring the new
hall into freduent service.