The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-08
ID CALL FOR BIDS ON '. M. GA. BUILDING Final Plans for Structure .Ac-
 cepted Yesterday WHEELOCK DESCRIBES IT The General Style of the Building Is French Renaissance With n Few
 Details of Purely Ro-
 man DOric
WHEELOCK DESCRIBES II

At joint meeting of the board of di- reetors and the new building committee of the Young Mems Christian association, held yesterday afternoon, the plans and specifications for the proposed new Young Mems Christian association building were accepted and Architect Wheeock was au- thorized to invite bids at once.
 March 1, 1911, was set as the date on which the bids will be opened.
 Representatives of the building commit tee, the architect and General Secretary Stubbs have visited many of the most modern association buildings in order that they might be thoroughly informed In regard to the latest developments In as- sociation architecture. The building com mittee and many others with whom they have conferred feel confident that the Birmingham building, nine stories high, in addition to the basement and roof garden, will be one of the best associa- ton buildings that has been constructed, both in appearance and usefulness.
 The following is a brief description of the proposed new building furnished by Architect Wheelock
 "The general style of the building Is French renaissance, with few details purely Roman doric. Two considerations, aside from matters of pure design and fit- ness, were borne in mind: first the char acter of the general design and details relative to the materials used; second, the character of the building Is distinct from a mere aggregation of stories or a loft or mercantile building.
 'The opportunities for the utilization of coors have not been overlooked and the result Is a harmony of colors pleasing to the eye and most consistent with the surroundings.
 "The massive facade is relieved by a pavilion at each corner and has broad central motive in the lower part of which are three arches executed in terra cotta. The spandrils of these arches are dec orated with the Young Mems Christian association emblem in connection with modern architectural forms. Over each arch Is an opalescent globe containing electric lights. Above this fenestration each window is framed in a moulded terra cotta architrave with terra cotta key stones in relief
 'In each pavilion between sill and head of windows are six faienee panels. the in- dividual design of each being traced in light green with field of darker shade.
 "The basement is of granite, the large blocks giving a heavy, substantial ap- pearance. The first story and balcony and cornice above are of terra cotta; the broad surfaces of this story being faced with blocks of the same. The de- tails are simple and clean cut, varying slightly in color from body.
 "The main and boys entrances are treated in terra cotta and iron, the for mer having verdantique iron marquise with hanging electric lights, all support ed on ornamental wrought iron brackets; the latter is lighted by electric bracket lights.
 "The body of the building above the first story will be faced with tapestry brick, to be selected later, varying from rich brown to dark red and laid with large white mortar joints giving a most interesting texture to the whole.
 "The building is surmounted by terra cotta cornice with details large and plain and in excellent scale. The frieze is slightly enriched, the details being em- phasized by a soft shading of colors
 "Surmounting the parapet are five an- tiuue iron standards supporting electric lights and adding interest to the sky line.
 "The design as a whole is thoroughly architectural and is emphasized not by undue richness of detail, but by con trast of quiet surfaces and colors."