Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-22
MAY %, 1918.
RED CROSS HOUSE
ALMOST COMPLETED
Spacious Building For Use of
Convalescents Will Soon Be
Open at Base Hospital. Well
Equipped to Serve Needs.

The Red Cross House, now in thu
course of erection in the Base Hospital
at Camp Hancock is almost completed
and plans are already under way for the
formal opening and dedication to gov
ernmental uses. Situated as it is, in To-
cation easily accessible from all parts of
convenient center for ali the purposes for
which it has been designed.
The, general purposes of the building are
to furnish q lounge and rest room for
conValescent PATIENTS an administration
center for the Field Director of the Red
Cross; an emergency lodging, to be used
in critical cases only, for relatives of
| those dangerously i'll, when they are
summoned to the hospital by the com
mander; emergency housing for Red Cross
nurses or staff together with facilities for
entertainment of convalescents and the
hospital and Red Cross staffs. 1t will
form the headquarters for Red Cross ac-
tivities in the hospital and will be the
headquarters of the Red Cross Commu-
nfcation Service which Is the department
through which families and friends OF
ftheir welfare. which service cuveys
camps in America as well as the battle
! front abroad
The main portion Of the structure is
occupied by the lounge or assembly room
which is 54x70 feet in its principal di-
mansions. with an ambulatory connect
ing corridor entering at one end and at
the other end glassed-in porch elevated
IcuI Steps dDON6 the main UOOr level so
that itmay be used as a stage when so
required. Three sides of this porch or
stage are closed in with windows ar
ranged for a maximum opening. A NOV
ing picture machine booth is located in
balcony over the main entrance and
six exits are provided from this room in
addition to the main entrance. The en-
trance end Of the lounge is enclosed with
glass similar to that used on the stage
and except at lower lever. to form
3oarium. Writing desks are provided UNI
der the windows and book shelves are
disposed along the walls The color
scheme throughout is brown and white
The cosy looking open frepaces arc
primarily for ventilation vent shaft
is provided outside the smoke hue which
together furnish sufficient ventilation for
the proper air condition of the room I'M
der ordinary conditions of service. These
ffreplaces may be used with a fire but
will operate without FIRE and need not
be equipped with CRATES or andirons if
the commanding officer thinks that for
reasons Of safety fire should not be
used. A cupola Ventilator is provided to
take the foul air from the top Of the
room when used to full capacity or in
summer temperatures.
store is provided with counter.
shelves and a desk for the attendant
who will take care Of the library mail,
information. distribution of supplies and
other details. kitchen, with fully
equipped pantry is provided in case a
mess need be maintained for the staff
, or under the direction of the medical
commanding officer. for the preparation
or supplies for convalescents.
Many small rooms are arranged and
distributed to be used for a variety of
purposes such as sleeping rooms dress
ing rooms, reception rooms, reading
rooms and offices. All rooms are fur
nished with comfortable furniture A
mezzanine floor provides further floor
space if needed. A central plant will
furnish heat for the entire building The
plans call for steam heat.
This building is substantially similar
to others now erecte dor in the course
of construction in all the Camps The
rent and plans then conceived are now
being carried out A convalescent house
it has been demonstrated, materially as
sists in the speedy recovery Of patients,
enabling men to return more quickly to
their company.