The San Francisco call., 1910-06-24
$1,000 Prize Won
BY new YORK firm
Plans Chosen for New Munich
pal Structure Are Unique
and Elaborate

Oakland's new million dollar municipal
building were chosen this morning at
d meeting of the board of architectural
experts employed by the city in the Of
lice Of John GaIen Howard, advisory
architect for the city. at the University
0f California. They were designed by
Palmer & IornbosteI. architects of New
York city. who win receive a prize Of
5000, with additional compensation for
their services as designing architects of
the building.
The plans call for building SIS feet
in height from the base TO the top OF
Tire flagstaff which viii surmount the
cupola-
WILL BE OF GRANITE
The structure Will be of granite, re-
inforced by structural steel. There Will
ne four great divisions Of the building.
each OF the main municipal depart
ments being on separate floors. The
building viii be 10 stories high. On the
first floor viii be the Offices Of the po-
lice and fire department. which also viii
occupy the major portion OF the second
floor. The next three stories are as
signed 10 the Offices Of the assessor, the
tax collector and the auditor, in the
order named, while the remainder OF the
city Offices viii be arranged above. The
city prison viii be established in the
three top floors, where provision has
been made for cells, exercise courts and
other modern Jail facilities.
In their plans the successful archi-
tects have endeavOred to combine two
distinct types Of buildings a monu-
mental structure for the accommoda-
ton of the mayors office, the council
chamber. the city clerks Office and the
board of public works. with ample
space for all purposes. and an office
building for the accommodation of the
other city departments which require
q large clerical force, with an abun-
dance Of light and working space.
Their design is practically that of a
low monumental city hall, surmounted
by a modern Office building.
CAN DRIVE IN STRAIGHT
The police and fre departments have
separate entrances from the street and
have no interior connection with the
city hall proper. The fire department
is in the rear of the ground floor, with
alley exits leading into both of the ad-
joining streets. which viii permit the
apparatus 10 be driven instead Of
hacked into its place when returning
from trips.
a mammoth vestibule OF attractive
design opens the way to a monumental
stairway which leads to a large cen
trsl rotunda some 65 feet above the
level Of the street About this rotunda
the most important Of the municipal
Offices are grouped. An elaborate sys-
tenn of elevators will accommodate the
traffic from floor TO floor, while there
viii be two special elevators for COM
nunication between the city prison and
the police courts. In these the pris-
oners will be carried.
One OF the most ornate features Of
the interior scheme will be the council
chamber. which is surrounded with gal
leries for the public, reached by STAIR
ways leading directly from the ro-
tunda.
MOTT GREATLY PLEASED
Mayor Mott. who attended the meet
ing Of the board of Judges this morn
ing, expressed himself as greatly
pleased with the chosen plans.
The type of the building is decidedly
unique" he said, and I believe that it
will attract favorable attention every
where and gain for Oakland the repu-
tatiOn of having one Of the most mod
ern municipal buildings in the country
The exterior design Of the building Will
be very attractive, indeed, while we
believe that the interior viii suit all
the needs of the various city depart
ments much better than any of the
other plans submitted The lighting
facilities OF the building viii be excel
lent The choice of the winning plans
was unanimous by the members Of the
board"
The honorary prize offered by the
city was awarded TO Cass Gilbert of
New York while the 10 second prizes
OF 81 600 each were won by the follow
ing contestants:
Bakeweu & Brown; All Montgomery
street. San Francisco.
A. w. Brunner, SS Union Square
Deiano & Aldrich, 4 East Thirty
ninth street New York.
J. H. Freedlander. PA Fifth avenue,
G. ". Kelham. Crocker building, San
H. Van Buren Magonigle. West
Thirty-eighth street, New York.
F. II. Meyer, Humboldt Bank build
ing, San Francisco.
Rankin. KELLOGG & Crane. 1921 Wal
nut street. Philadelphia.
Ward & Blohme. Alaska Commercial
York & Sawyer. 156 Fifth avenue.
New York.
HORs DE .CoNCOURs
Bliss & Faville. Balboa building.
San Francisco.
Tracy. Swartwout & LitchheId. 244
Fifth avenue, New York
Preparations for the construction of
the new building viii progress rapidly.
according 70 Mayor Mott. AS soon as
detailed drawings and specifications.
which probably will be ready in a few
weeks, the advertisements for bids
win be made on the contract work, and
the contract viii be let either in Octo-
Der or November.