Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-05
SELECTS DESIGN
. FOR NEW BUILDING
ON old FORD LOT
Joint Committee Gives First
Prize to Carneal &
Johnston.
BOSSOM'S AWARD Is
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Found Entirely Feasible to Unite
Courts, Library and
Auditorium.
EACH HAS SEPARATE ENTRANCE
Consulting Architect Says Building
Can BE Erected, Complete, for
SS6O,OOO.

/ Carneal & Johnston were last night
declared by the special joint commit
/ tee on the new municipal building.
winners OF the $1,000 first prize in the
competition for designs for the pro-
posed structure. The $500 second prize
was won by Herbert L. Cain, and the
$3.50 third prize was awarded to w.
| Duncan Lee.
! The awards were made unanimously
on the basis Of a report submitted by
/ Advisory Architect Alfred c. Bosom,
of New York, recommending designs
Nos Z. and s. as first, second and
third best respectively, of the twelve
designs that were submitted. When
the sealed envelopes bearing the same
numbers were opened after the awards
had been made. it was found that the
three architects named were the win
ncrs.
COMMITTEE AGREES WITH
BOssOM IN SELECTION OF DESIGN
! The committee agreed with Mr.. Bos-
som that the Carneal g. Johnston de-
sign was SO far superior for the city's
purposes to the other eleven, and
solved tho library, courtroom and audi
torium problems with such signal sue
cess, that 1t easily merited the first
prize. Although the two other prize
and were carefully drawn, they were
given lower rank for reasons explained
| in detail by Mr. Bosom, which were
concurred in by the committee.
In general appearance. the building
designed by CarneaIs& Johnston Is dis :.
character. created by tho central ele-
waited portion rising from the broad
mass OF the building proper. The
building, according to Mr.. Rossom,
would be harmonious with the pres
cnt City Hall and the other important
structures that cluster about this civic
centre.
CAN DE ERECTED
! FOR NOT OVER $3.50, 1000
| II is estimated by Mr. Bosom that
| the building can bc constructed either
lof Indiana limestone or Virginia
! granite for sS50,0O0. Allowing for all
contingencies and extras, IL was his
belief that the cost would not exceed
/ Sl.o0o,OOO.
The general mass OF tho building will
Approximately stand level with tho roof
line of the present City Hall. From
this mass will rise the large central
elevation--as wide as the First Ma
tional Bank Building and twice as
deep--to height OF more than 400 feet
from the street level. Tho central
elevated portion is to be devoted en-
clusivcly to the courts-each court to
have an entire iloor to itself. From
street line to the top of the symbolic
figure of Justice. which will aurmount
the tower. the building will he the
tallcst IN the city-cNcecdinE in height
even the skyscrapcr Mt Ninth and
Main Streets.
Under the resolution creating the
special Joint committee. II was empow-
cred merely to employ AN advisory ar
chttcct and hold designs competition.
The resolution carried an appropriation
of $1,000 for the advisory architects
services. but provided the committee
with no funds with which to pay the
Sl.T5o in prizes.
CITY NOT YET OBLIGATED
TO ERECT BUILDING
The committee, by unanimous vote,
adopted r resolution recommending to
the Council that it appropriate s1,7SO
with which TO pay the three prizes to
the winning architects. 1t will be pre-
seIted to the Common Council for
adoption at it's regular meeting Mon
day night and Will In all probability
be passed A resolution was also adopt
cd extending TO Architect Bosom a
vote Of thanks for his services in the
competition, and inStructinS Chairman
Seaton to sign the voucher for $1,000
due Mr.. Bosom for his services
Under the terms governing the com
petition, which all the architects ac-
cepted, the committee is under no OBJ
legation to recommend tho construc-
tion of q building from either the win
, ming or any other design, nor is the
city obligated TO build The compe-
tion and the strict obligations flowing
from it close with the payment of the
prize money.
The plan OF the committee, however,
as soon as the prcliminaries can be adj
justed. is to. recommend to tho Coun-
eli measures directing the construc-
tion of tho new building from the win
ming Carneal & Johnston design. IN
the event that the city decides to build,
the $1,000 prize awarded to Carneal &
Johnston. is to be deducted from the
amount that will be paid to this firm
rs Its professional fees on the building.
DESIRES TO RETAIN BOsSoM
AS CONSULTING EXPERT
The committee Expressed unoffically
its desire to retain Mr.. Bosom as its
advisory architect until the building
Is completed. or until 1t is definitely
decided to abandon the project. Alder
man Adams. who made this sugges-
tion, thought that the city needed an
expert to advise it on points that may
arise from time to time In the course
of the enterprise, and In comforting
with the winning architects upon pro-
posed improvements not provided for
In the original design. The idea was
given strong approval by the commit
tee.
AS soon az the. resolution carrying
appropriations for, the prize winners
runs the gauntlet OF the Finance Com
mittee and the Council..t .the committee
Will hold another meeting. and take
Continued on Ninth Page0 n i