The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-06-11

ualsu howard, Frederick u. Meyer aud
John Reid, Ir, constituting the board
Of consulting architects appointed by
the city to devise civic center scheme
and conduct the city hall architectural
competition, have Gled with tho mayor
aud supervisors report unanimously
recommending the adoption Of the civic
center plan known as 'Seacme Il.
In preparing original deaigns for the
location Of buildings on the civic cen
ter lands that are included in the tract
chosen when condemnation proceed
ings Were begun, two schemes were
tentatively adopted by the architectural
commission These were essentially
the same in regard to the general land
scape and architectural treatment of
the site and the distribution of build
ings, save that different locations with
in the site were shown for the city
hall
"'Seheme A" submitted by the archi
tectural commission provides for plac-
ing the city hall on double block
which would be bounded by Hyde, Lar
kin, McAllister and Grove streets, and
the library and municipal opera house
ON the two western blocks of the civic
center tract, fronting Van Ness avenue
between McAllister and Grove streets,
and opening into the civic center plaza
at Polk street. In other words, the
city hall would occupy almost exactly
its old site, although one of its cor
ners would extend across City Hall
avenue into Marshall Square.
City Hall West of Center.
"Scheme b, - which is the plan now
unanimously recommended for adoption
by the commission, provides for the city
hall at the western end of the civic
center in the double block bounded
| by Van Ness avenue, Polk, McAllister
and Grove streets, and the placing of
the library and opera house on the tract
at the east of the civic center, where
the city hall is shown in "Scheme A. -
The architectural superiority of
"Scheme B' over the rival design is
but one of the many reasons advanced
by the architects for their recommended
tion in its favor 1t is pointed out in
the commission Is report that this plan
offers greater quiet for the city hall,
that the city hall itself would act as a
1 protection to the public square against
the prevailing west winds, that the pub
lie square would be in front of the city
hall instead of being behind it, that
frmer foundations for the city hall may
be provided and its construction made
much less expensive, that the city hall
L Mill hn n hi An
long before the other portions of the
site, that the scheme offers space for
one additional small building within the
civic center, that rentals may be saved
for city departments now occupying the
ruins of the old city hall pending the
construction of the new one, and, above
all, that the setting and architectural
effect are UNNECESSARILY superior to
"Scheme A.
The competition now in progress fol-
the city hall is based on "Scheme A, -
but as the two sites for the building
are exactly the same in every proper
ton, the chosen design will be equally
applicable to the plan that is recon-
mended and the change of position may
be Effected without any embarrassment
to the work that has been done and
without any loss of time.
AS matter OF time saving, scheme
B,'' in fact, has every advantage over
the original design. The city attorney
has reported that the purchase by con
demnation of the site at the west o.
the square will be completed by tn,
end of the year, or by the time con
tracts can be let for the building
while it may take considerably long
or time to conclude the street openin;
proceedings that will be necessary il
the tract east of Larl1in street. A
rapid progress is essential if the cit,
hall is to be completed by the time tn,
exposition opens, this factor is report
ed upon by the commission as of ex
treme Importance.
Another factor that argues strongl.
in favor of "Scheme B'' is the founda
, ton. Extensive behring's made by tn
: commission to ascertain the eharacte