Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-04
WASH|NG1ON's WONOER HOUSE
Finest Type of School Building
Yet Seen in America.
1t Cost S1,25O.OOO and Will Accommo-
date 5000 students-0OO May Eat
Luncheon mt One Time under
Auditorium.

| of Washington, and it Is considered the
finest type of school building yet con-
| structed in the United States 1t cost W.
100000 and will accommodate o'Wo
students.
The structure Is erected on nine-acre
lot covering almost two squares In the
heart of the northwest 1t Is rectangular
! in shape, with an extreme width OF 4o'
feet and depth of about 2O rect. ana
will occupy $4,000 cubic feet OF space.
! The lower end of the site Will be de-
voted to an immense athletic field an"
stadium the only one of its kind In the
city. At the back of this field VIII be
constructed a concrete stadium designed
to accommodate 5000 spectators and ex-
tending a little more than half way around
the ellptical uuarterme track which ~
to be one of the features of the area
Upon this field will be staged all the ath-
letic contests in which the various high
schools participate annually. There Will
be a regulation size foot ball field and ten
mis- and basketball courts, in addition to
supplementary courts to be constructed on
a terrace There will be a baseball
diamond. and the enclosure within the
quarter-mile running track will furnish n
stage for the usual outdoor meets. Under
the stadium will be lockers and wash
rooms Between the upper level OF the
stadium and the building will be broad
promenade for outdoor strols; and under
this promenade, lighted by sidewalk sky
lights, will be one of the unique features
of the school, an indoor cinder track 1873
yards in length ana q feet wide, the only
track of its kind in America.
7
The building Is three stories in height
above the ground floor and Is faced
throughout with dark tapestry work and
Bedford stone trim. These stories Will
be occupied by an auditorium; class
, rooms; II laboratories, accommodating tov;
five art rooms: a group OF domestic
science rooms, consisting of two sewing
rooms with fitting and store rooms,
cooking room with store ROOM a model
dining room and a laundry. Mechanical
drawing rooms and manual training
, shops will be provided the shops to be
isolated in wing where the noise from
them cannot interfere with work in the
class rooms. The auditorium with II
, exits, will seat / ,955 persons. or more than
, any other hall in Washington can ac-
comodate with the exception OF ConVen-
ton hall Tie stage will be T. by 20 feet.
The lunch room under the auditorium will
accommodate 900 students at one lunch
period On each side the room VIII
open upon the light courts. which will
be paved and with a fountain In the
center of each. In good weather students
will gather in these courts for luncheon
Below the ground floor on the south side
of the structure. but still above grade be-
cause of the slope of the hill. Is a base
ment which will be used as the high
school cadet armory, a hall 81 feet wide
by 102 feet long. Adjoining the armory
will be a lounge room for cadet officers
an office for military instructors, a rifii
range of the size Of the armory, swim
. ming pool "A by so feet. lighted by dlrec'
a sunlight, and heating and power plants
~ The heating and ventilating Will be bj
: means of steam plenum with air purifica
h ton and temperature and humidity con
p troll. individual lighting Will be carried
q to the students tables in the laborator!e:
a and the library. synchronizing clocr
q and bell system and house telephone
= system with private branch exchange II
h the general office will complete thu
. mechanical equipment.
o REST ROOMS FOR THE JANITORS.
y The library on the second floor, 40 by 8
l. feet, Will accommodate 270 students
IS one time and the stack room about 1000
volumes This useful room will be wains
s coted in wood with a carved stone man
q tel and fireplace at one end. over tn
q library will be a music and lecture am
e phitheatre seating 232 persons to be use'
Is as IL class room and for lectures am
lie meetings; and adjoining will be an In
n structors room and "A musical library
g On alternate floors will be rest room
n for men and women teachers and on tn
lie ground floor will be rooms for men ant
Is women janitors. The locker rooms 70
l. students, on the ground floor. will b.
ID provided with electric heaters for drying
"a the wet clothes of pupils in storm!
10 weather. freight elevator will be use'
VI to distribute supplies to the various
% floors
All the class rooms and laboratories o
~ this wonder house are outside rooms ant
will be uniaterally lighted. The girls
&c gymnasium will have spectators GaI
:. lery seating 336 persons, and below II vii
" he gymnasium of similar size for tn
boys Rooms for instructors, locker room
and shower baths will be provided witt
each symna stun. The roof Of the girls
gymnasium will be tiled and used 70
m outdoor study. 1t Will be 1875 feet lon
and will accommodate 400 pupils at time
The four main stairways OF the buildin
v will be arranged in double flights so tina
81 pupils passing up will be separated iron
ia those passing down. The building coul
y be finished for use next winter. an
81 probably will be completed by that time
- but the authorities have decided not t
t. open it until the fall term of 1916 Wash
y ington Correspondence OF Boston Tran
script.