The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-07
$4,000 IS
ESTIMATE ON
HIGH SCHOOL
Architect Ittner Submits
Report to City Board of
Education
CITES FIGURES ON
MARKET CONDITIONS
Not in Favor of Retaining
Old Building As a
Nucleus

Figures computed by Architect
William B. Ittner of st. Louis, and
submitted in his report by his repre-
sentative, r. G. Alexander, to the
members of the city board of educa-
ton in session Wednesday evening,
placed the cost of the proposed new
high school building, ready for equip
ment, at $4,000.
Computation by the architect shows
the building to contain 1850, 900 cubic
feet. Under normal market condi-
tons the structure could be
erected of fireproof construction
for Is cents per cubic foot, or $247,-
500, but according to the report, re-
cent advances in building material
and labor market. would make it un-
wise to estimate the cost at this time,
much lower than Is cents.
Not TO Remodel Old Building.
Architect Ittner states in his report
that as matter of general policy it
is unwise to attempt the enlargement
or remodeling Of an old school build
ing unless all conditions are favor
able. Old school buildings are gener-
ally of the combustible type Ordinary
joint construction), are without ade-
quate ventilation or the means of in
stalling it economically, have improp-
erly lighted class rooms of abnormal
size and story height, have inadequate
and poorly lighted corridors, shallow
and poorly lighted easements, have
walls, floors and foundations of made
quate strength and except in rare in
stances their plan is such as to en-
tirely defeat the carrying out of any
thing approximating the lines of a
well correlated school building.
Open to all Defects.
An examination of the old high
school building, destroyed by fire, dis
closes that it is open to all of the
mentioned objections for successful
alteration and addition. For these
reasons, the architect holds in his re-
port. he is compelled to discourage the
board from any attempt to retain the
old building as a nucleus for the new
one, except insofar as the suitable
building materials therein can be
utilized in its construction.
Tentative plans for the new build
ing show that it will be 218 feet across
the front with an extreme depth of
1872 feet, exclusive of the boiler room,
which will be located to the north of
the main building. The building will
be placed symmetrically upon the site,
facing the broad avenue to the south.
This will give practically all of the
classrooms an east, south or western
exposure, and will leave approximate
ly so feet upon these sides for plant
ed area and lawn. The building as de-
signed is two stories high with its
first floor raised six feet above the
sidewalk level of the surrounding
streets, and with basement under the
rear portion of the building only.
26 Rooms for High School.
The building contains IL rooms for
the grades, rs rooms for the high
school and in addition an auditorium
seating 500 persons, a gymnasium ar
ranged for two classes, lunchroom
accommodating $50 pupils, a laundry,
a swimming pool with locker and
shower rooms, general toilet rooms.
general locker rooms, administration
rooms for a board of education and
the high and grade schools and a
nurses room.
Auditorium on Main Floor.
The auditorium will be placed on
the main floor of the building and is
S0x76 feet and will seat 500 persons.
1t will have six exits to both floors Of
the building and will be arranged in