The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-05
Will Provide Central Court Build
ing, With Library and Audi
toriurn on Either Side.
FOR CONSULTING ARCHITECT
Special Committee Asks for Funds
to Prepare Data for Gen
eral Competition.


Il municipal building that site
voted unanimously last night for
resolution requesting the Council to
appropriate $1,000. to be used In en-
ployinE n competent architect to mako
survey Of the property and prepare
II tentative building program.
The architect employed is to be
ono Of recognized standing. He Will
make n study of the purposes to which
the proposed building will he devoted
and the space needed for the scpa-
ratio departments IT will house and
prepare a definite statement or building
program to which competing archi-
tects will adhere In submitting their
designs.
Although no definite step was taken
last night towards describing the kind
OF building thnt would he erected. IT
the committee that the building should
provide for an auditorium and public
library. as we'll az for all the neces-
sary courtrooms and clerks Offices
demanded by the city's judicial ma
chinery. Tho committee expressed In
these functions in one building was
entirely feasible and that designs
should be asked for on these lines.
EXPECr TO CALL FOR
COMPETITIVE DESIGNS
The resolution asking for tho $1,000
Board OF Aldermen at It's meeting
Tuesday night. The unanimlty Of the
support given II BY the Joint commit
tee, which includes President Adams,
OF the Board of Aldermen. and Prcsi
dent Peters. OF the Common Council.
practically insurcs the passing of the
resolution by both branches with the
minimum delay.
AS soon as the appropriation is made
available the committee VIII select
suitable architect, who will begin At
once the surveys called for by the
resolution. when his preliminary
plans are complete the committee will
invite competitive designs for the pro-
posed municipal building, opening the
competition. In all probability. 10 all
the architects OF the country.
y resolution introduced early IN the
evening by President Peters, Of the
Common Council outlined roughly the
general character OF the building de-
sired and proposed on the basis OF
this general description to invite ten
tative plans Tor. the structure. 1t was
| the idea OF Mr.. Peters to offer prize
! of $500 for the second best drawing
submitted and n prize of $500 for the
| third best. Tho architect whose draw
ing was voted best was TO receive as
his reward the contract for preparing
the final designs for the building.
WANT UNIFORM DATA
! Mr.. Peters was persuaded TO aban-
/ don this plan a the advice OF Archi-
tects w. &. holland and Marcellus e.
Wright. who pointed out the insui'i-
! cheney of the data upon which IL was
proposed 10 invite architects 10 sub
nit designs. They strongly ADVISED
the employment OF n competent archi-
tcct at once to act in an advisory ca
! pacity and prepare tentative build
ing program which competing archl-
iects could follow.
The employment OF an architect at
the very beginning was strongly urged
by Chairman Barton II. Grundy. OF the
Finance Committee. member of the
special committee on the proposed !nu-
n!cipal building. and by Captain Alex
H. Guigon and Samuel w. Meek MI
Peters explained that his only desire
was to avoid delay. and that he was
entirely willing to agree TO Such piah
II II would not delay progress
II was agreed TO postpone deciding
upon the prizes that should be offered
until the $1,000 appropriation is Sc
cured and the advisory architect en-
! Moved The suggestion was made that
thcre should be q first prize or Sl,UOO,
which should be paid TO the architect
submitting the best design In the event
that the building project falls through,
20 be deducted from the architect S
commission in case the building Is
~
and third prize OF $500 were also
suggested.
The advisory architect employed by
the committee under the authority or
the resolution recommended last night,
is TO assist the committee also in 1udg-
ing the competitive designs that VIII
| be submitted. The contest. II is pro-
vided. shall be held strictly in accord
ancc with the rules on competitions OF
the American Institute of Architects.
THINKS ALL THREE CAN
DE PROVIDED FOR
The committee was called to order
at $40 o'clock by Chairman Scaton.
Councilmen Peters and Jones and AL
dermen Adams and Grundy were in
attendance. Mr.. Peters explained the
motives that prompted him TO inau-
curatc the Ford lot improvement
scheme. and described in n general way
Il municipal building which, he said.
could he so constructed as to make
excellent provision for the library. au-
ditorium and courtroom features.
Mr.. Peters told the committee that
he made n special trip to Washington
last week 10 inspect the exhibits OF
the National Library Convention that
was held in that city. lie found plans.
he said, which approximated the plans
he had In mind for the proposed mu-
nicipal building, and received assurance,
| on good authority, that such build
ing could be erected for $500. 900.
Generally speaking, it was the plan
of Mr.. Peters to have a central Office
building of five stories to provide for
the courtrooms and clerks offices. On
each side are TO be adjunct build
ings harmonious as to architecture
with the central building, as we'll as
with the prominent buildings that wall
in Capitol Square. These adjunct
buildings would house In practically
separate structures an auditorium
capable OF seating at least 5000 people.
and public library with all ncces-
sary reading and Stackrooms.
The committee thought 1t wise to
defer giving its approval to any plan.
however tentative. until the advisory
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