New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
NEW BUILDING SYSTEM
Able Managers Consulted Before
Launching Projects.

" n. joplin. Of Cleveland. contrasts the
past and present methods Of planning an
Office building in an article in the July
issue Of Building Management" He is
the manager Of a number OF the most mod
ern Office structures in Cleveland, which
ore cIassed among the principal popular
and profitable office buildings in this coun-
try.
AS 10 old methods he says:
In office building the owner or his agent,
having conceived the idea or erecting
structure on a certain piece OF property,
would after giving the matter care1ul
thought and deciding 10 proceed, hlre an
architect and at some stage In me pro
ceedings a renting manager would pc Sc
cured. frequently some one almost, II not
ertirely unacquainted with the endless De
tails OF Office Guiding management. ana on
the shoulders Of this person was placed tne
burden OF making successful an enterprise
with the actual development or ~nich ne
had little or nothing 10 do. IN view OF tnls
method of procedure IL is astonishing 70
see how many office buildings nave Deen
reasonable successes yet were II not FOR
the wonderful growth in population or our
cities compelling people 10 rent lrrespec-
tive of whether entirely satisfied or not
with ali details OF light, location and SINH
Iar matters there would be a very differ
emit story to tell in recording the history OF
business blocks.
The future. he adds. Will call for differ
emf conditions. Growth in population may
no as fast and active. he further says. as
IN the past. but development will be much
faster and competition will be keener so
that in Office building the owner VINO
wishes IN succeed will have 10 meet the de-
mauds Of a now thoroughly educated class
~ tenants. Fortunately, the spirit Of CO.
oneration between all concerned has devel-
oned N a point where the Importance IS
thoroughly appreciated n having the archi-
tects OF new Office buildings consult with
experienced building managers regarding
the details 10 be considered in providing
q building that shall meet the needs and
dernands of prospective tenants; In word,
that shall rent and stay rented.
To snow the progress in ideas along this
line he tells about an experience he had
some twenty years ago. II was his good
fortune. he SAYS, 10 enter the ONCE OF
man engaged in the promotion OF office
buildings. He was developing the business
unon entirely different lines from those
then I'm vogue. Instead Of wide piers and
millions with small openings. his Idea was
70 have large windows and thus secure az
much light as possible. Instead OF very
da.p. dark Offices. he planned no deeper
office than could be we'll lighted with nat
uraI light This. OF course. necessltated
tho introduction OF considerable court
space. which at first seemed a loss OF
snace. but the owner and Mr. joplin found
no trouble in getting people TO move Into
these bright. attractive Offices and 10 pay
higher price for them. While natural
uph. was the most expensive item con-
nected with the buildings It paid 70 get H..
AS a result the buildings were very sue
cessfrl and paid handsomely.
These ideas. added 10 a knowledge OF
correct spacing. were those OF practical
man. saws Mr. Joplin, one who had come
into contact with all sorts Of tenants and
who knew what they wanted Since then
modern once building has made wonderful
advancement. principally In size and con-
sfruction. however. for the matter Of nat
ural light and correct units is not subject
~ change