The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-08
Che Days Best ThOughts
The, Art Of Life
and Building
THE VALUE OF SCIENTIFIC BUILDING.
EDITED BY NOBLE FOSTER HOGGSON
PRESIDENT HoccSoN BROTHERS BUILDERS

floor space is included in each room
that is not actually necessary. BY
eliminating the partitions, this vast
ed space would be released for ac-
tual and effective use, often salts
fying the demand for increased ac-
commodations. Safety demands,
however, that the space set aside for
certain departments be enclosed.
This security is usually obtained
by the use OF mesh partitions which
obviates the appearance or sense OF
congestion.
The man in a cage is restricted
in his environment, and to make
his situation tolerable, his cage
must be equipped with all convent
ences developed in the interests Of
business efficiency. Not only must
these conveniences be provided, but
they must be properly located. Me-
chanical devices should be SO plac-
ed that those in frequent use are
nearest at hand.
The storage capacity in cage Is
limited by the height OF the counter
or desk, in order that the occupant
of the cage may keep in visual
touch with other departments.
When allowance is made for knee
space under the desk, the room left
for drawers, files or cupboards Is
never great so a study OF the hu-
man unit is vital to the proper
utilization of the space limitations
of the cage. In many respects the
environment of the man IN the cage
is similar to that of a naval Off
GER who is "cabined, cribbed, con-
fined" not only during his working
hours, but in his hours off duty.
His stateroom is his office and his
sleeping quarters as well. The area
at his disposal is quite as limited
as that of the bank clerk, and, as
the complexities of our modern CIV
ilization have followed him aboard
ship, here is necessity for utilizing
the available room to its utmost ca
pacity.
This phase of naval architecture
has been developed into a science
principally because the design OF
battleships is in the hands OF ex-
perts who follow a continuous pol
icy, and profit by their accumulat-
ed experience.
Like the naval architest, the bank
planning expert is in a position to
apply his fund of knowledge to new
conditions, and in his study of equip
ment has early realized that to Sc
cure utmost efficiency in given
space is basic principle OF eco
nomic planning.
Unless one has studied or built
banking room equipment, IT is dit
ficult to realize the possibilities tor
utilizing limited areas. Our dimen-
sional units feet and inches, were
more or less accidental in their orr
gin, and the habit OF thinking IN
these terms is not characteristic OF
the race at large. If evidence seems
to be lacking in this respect, ask
any bank teller the size of his cage; /;
ask anybody the height OF table;
then ask him to measure.
In the planning of bank, as in
the planning of anything, there can
be no effect without an adequate
cause. A high degree of technical
skill, a knowledge OF materials and
of their economic uses, more than a
passing acquaintance with rod and
line, the power to visualize, and the
ability to lay out intelligenily on
paper that others may see and un-
derstand-these, coupled with wide,
practical experience, are some OF
the phases which result in we'll
planned banks