Evening star., 1920-01-04
CLUB AUDITORIUM
. ON GROUND FLOOR
Definite Plans Call for Seat
ing Capacity of 700, Be-
sides a Mezzanine.

Plans for the early beginning of work
on the new home of the City Club, on
G. street between 18th and 14th, where
discussed the other evening at joint
dinner meeting of the building and
finance committee of the club, attended
also by members of the board of gov
ernors and several other members of
the club. AS a preliminary to the con-
Sideration of the steps to be taken to
complete the acquisition of the site and
start the work of clearance preparatory
to actual building operations, James
Sharp. chairman of the building COM
mittee. explained in detail the charac-
teristics of the new clubhouse. as now
developed in the elaboration of the de-
sign and floor plans by the architect,
Frederic Il. Pyle.
As the plans have been definitely de-
termined upon. for the preparation by
the architect of the working drawings.
the auditorium of the club. which orig
inally had been provided for on the top
floor, will be located on the ground
floor, directly back of the foyer. This
room. So by SO feet, will, it is estimated,
accommodate about 700 persons, with
space available for others in a mez-
canine gallery overlooking the audi
torium. The seats WHY not be fixed, so
that the space can be utilized for dane
ing and also for gymnasium purposes,
although there will be no fixed APP
paratus in evidence to detract from the
character of the hall as primarily an
auditorium. II will be appropriately
treated architecturally. especial care be-
lrS given TO the matter of acoustics.
Ample for All Occasions.
II has been estimated that the room
As thus planned will he ample for all
but the most extraordinary occasions
The monthly meetings of the club at the
Willard Hotel. at which addresses have
been delivered by speakers of promi-
nence, and luncheons have been served,
dn1
about 500 members. which number is
accepted as guide to the clubs re-
quirements in the new building
With the auditorium located on the
ground floor. access to it will be
easier than in the original plan. 1t
will be reached by wide entrances
opening directly from the great foyer.
on the same level
Large meetings can be held in the
main dining room of the club. which
is the largest room in the building
as planned. This. however, will be
possible only after the dinner hours
A third meeting room. capable of ac-
commodating $50 or 200 persons will
be available by throwing together the
group of conference rooms on the
third floor
Gymnasium facilities will be pro-
Iv1ded on the basement floors. where
bowling alleys and hand ball courts
will be located. with appropriate
equipment showers, lockers, etc. 1t
is. expected that the auditorium floor
will be used frequently for indoor
competitive games, for medicine
BALI practice and other forms of ex-
ercise not requiring elaborate fixed
apparatus.
Complete Dining Arrangements
The general dining room is on the
second toor and SO arranged that the
families of club members with Iady
guests can enter at one end, while
men alone will occupy the other end
There is also on this floor a second
dining room or grill for men. Along
one side of the main dining room is a
balcony fitted with ten tables, over
looking the main room.
A large lounge extends across the
front of the building on the third
hoor. Corresponding to this, across
the back of the building, is an ex-
tensive billiard room. On the same
hoor are card rooms and on the east
ern side group of conference rooms
with service pantry that may be
reached directly from below. These
conference rooms have proved popu-
lar in clubs in other cities, furnishing
an opportunity for groups to meet for
business purposes, and, if desired, to
have meals served. These rooms can
be thrown together for meetings or
10r small dinner parties.
On each of the six upper floors will
be tWenty-three bedrooms, with ample
accommodations for service, linen
closets, etc. This gives total of 1873
sleeping rooms, each equipped with
either a shower or a regular bath and
a large clothes closet