New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
COURTHOUSE PLAN
REGARDED A MODEL
TypifieS Scheme Of New Civic
Centre in CompaCtneSS and
Time-Saving Features.
SIMPLICITY THE KEYNOTE
Contracts Now Await the Ap.
proval of the Justices, and
Lowell Predicts Compile
ton Within Two Years.

\ lobby larger than the Pantheon at
Rome, separate elevators connecting Of
fees and cOurtTOoms directly with the
subway for judges. juries and people gal
lercs in the larger courtrooms. a facade
over 90 feet high and circular design
which eliminates the long corridors that
former courthouse construction has me-
cessitated go To- make the now Count,
Court House 10 be erected on the new
civic centre the mos, original criminal
courts building in the country. and per
haps in the world.
MIR. Lowell's plans which the committee
Of award selected from those OF twenty
two competitors, have won the approval
OF tie Courthouse Board. bur must be
passed upon by the Supreme Court jus
tees before the signing of the construc-
ton contracts.
The circular form Of the building will
permit direct access 10 a large circular
lobby in the centre. which is surrounded
by elevators. No matter from what side
one approaches the building. he VIII al
| ways meet an entrance through which hc
| can pass to the Interior, undeldyed 10y the
| usual corners around which one must
( pass TO gain access to main entrance.
On the ground floor. adjoining the en-
frances are the Offices OF the County
Clerk and the Commissioner of Jurors.
waiting rooms for the public. general
| consultation room for lawyers and rooms
| for the press. On the floors above are
! the courtrooms with one complete floor
| for the city courts and four floors for thu
| Supreme Court. over the courtguoms are
; library and dining rooms FOR the Justices
while adjoining "A broad terrace giving on
! city and harbor are the justices cham
| bers. The double SHELF construction Of
| the building. providing for a well circling
the inner structure. permits much light
| and air in the Courtrooms, many Of which
are frightened by two sets OF Windows
one toward the centre and the other
| facing the circumference of the structure
Each court has rooms for witnesses and
! counsel, and the passageways connecting
the robinS rooms, the justices chambers
| and the library with the courts are all
| separate from the public corridors. Judges
may go to and from the bench unseen by
the public and leave the building by pr
! Vate doors
Everything has been planned with a
! view 10 saving uIne, ana 10 mat emu II
circular structure. with its resultant com
pactness. seems To be peculiarly adapted.
Mr.. Lowell has not. howeve., sacrificed
| dignity to convenience. for the long, un-
! broken curves of the building have a il
rectness and simplicity that cannot be
1 easily duplicated I'm the broken lines Of
an irregular rectangular structure. In its
general style o. architecture the court
house will be typical Of many Of the old
Roman buildings, for IN spite of its
height the elements in its design. as I'm
the buildings OF the classic period. are
| few in number. Its base Will be circled
| by eighty columns and statues. represent
| ing the lawmakers OF present and ancient
times. II will have no other ornaments
save the beauty and harmony OF its lines
| and it's massive simplicity.
| Mr.. Lowell says that 5000 feet Of tracing
paper have been used ia perfccting the
| final plans, and that for six months he
| and his thirty subordinates have toiled at
| the work. He expects the building To be
! in use two years after the foundations
are laid.