Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-02
Urgent Recommendation Made
by House Committee of In
Stitute of Architects. /
CONDITION OF BUILDING
REGARDED AS MENACE
Cost of Improvements Estimated Be-
tween $4,000 and 500. 00O-An-
uual Convention Proceedings.

Urgent recommendations for the COM
plete restoration and preservation OF
octa gon House were made by the
house committee this morning at tho
opening session of the forty-cighth an
nual convention OF the American In
stitute of Architects. held in the ball.
room of the Shoreham Hotel. In ~
report the committee stated that IN it,
opinion the property is in a very had
condition.
Rather than enumerate the dong list
of minor repairs necessary the com
mittee urges the complete restoration
and preservation of the property" tho
report stated. as in its present condi-
ton 1t constitutes a menace that should
not be tolerated in historic buildins.
or a building housing the valuable
records of the institute. The commit
tee has been authorized and has, In CO.
operation with the building committee.
employed the architect OF the octagon.
Mr.. Glenn Brown. TO make a complete
survey of the property. with complete
plans and sections OF the building for
the cellar. first, second and third
stories. showing the construction and
present condition of the property. and
In addition plot OF the ground as Il
walls. with their conditions and char
acter noted. Your committee feels that
this work is outside the PROVING. OF
the house committee and should
hence.orth be intrusted to the newly
appointed Octaeon building committee
who should control and direct the e,-
penditure of any fund. however raised
for the restoration and preservation OF
the original building and grounds or
the erection of a new building. IL such
new building seems desirable and that
the activities OF the house COMMITTEE.
should be limited to the expenditure
of money for the necessary repairs and
maintenance of the property from the
funds appropriated in the annual
budget.
Work Of Building Committee.
The report OF the building committee.
also submitted at the opening session
of the convention. detailed the work
that has been done by that committee
and made recommendations along the
same line as those contained in the re-
port OF the house committee. The re-
port contained the suggestion that Oc-
tagon House, when restored, should lie
made national headquarters for other
artistic societies. such as the National
Sculpture Association. Society of Mural
Painters, American Federation of Arts.
etc.
Cost Of a complete restoration such
as was suggested in the reports OF
both committees. according to estimates
made by Glenn Brown, would be be
tween $4,000 and 100000. which would
not include funds for the maintenance.
of the building after completion.
The first session of the convention
opened with the annual address read
by r. Clipston Sturgis, president of Nh.
American Institute of Architects. In
his address President Sturgis spoke of
the work that has been accomplished
by the Institute in it's several lines OF
endeavor during the past year.
Refers to SHADOW Of War"
Prefacing his address with a refer
ence to the European war, President
Sturgis said.
II cannot speak to you today except
in the light of the trouble which casts
its shadow over US all Nations. peo-
Piles, individuals. to whom we owe
much, whom we admire. whom We love.
instead of working together for the ad-
vancement of art, science and industry.
and, above all, our religious ideals. are
testing the strength of modern arma-
ments, and on each side are giving
freely of all that makes life precious
and lovely-are giving life itself-for
ideals Instead of advancing side by
side toward a common goal, they are
attempting to establish by force each
their own ideals of national growth.
national prosperity. national honor.
And only one of these is worth fighting
for
Following an informal luncheon at
the Shoreham at 1 O'Clock. the after.
noon session of the convention heard
the reports of number of committees
Program for This Evening.
At tonight's session the report Of the
committee on education is to be pre-
scented, to be followed by a conference
and inspection of architectural draw
inrs shown by the faculties of the As
ISOLATION of Collegiate Schools OF
Architecture.
At tomorrow mornings session re-
ports of other committees are to be
submitted and nominations of feliows
of the institute are to be made. These
nominations are to be voted upon at
the afternoon session tomorrow.