Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-08-10
Renaissance Style is Decided On.


projected new capitol building will be
Of the renaissance style Of architec-
ture, it was stated by Cass Gilbert, OF
New York City, one OF the foremost
architects Of the country and the plan
ner for the State capitol commission.
The commission, now in conference,
has practically decided upon the de-
sign for the capitol and is now en-
gagged in working out the drawings.
The buildings as desigend have been
photographed and plates will be ready
for the newspapers of the State within
few days.
ain making plans for a capitol
building the problem naturally divides
itself into three main elements" said
Mr.. Gilbert. these elements are the
accommodation of the three principal
divisions of the State government-leg-
islatve, executive and judicial, each
to be correlated and yet so arranged
that the business to be transacted can
be done with a maximum of facility
and convenience.
This would naturally imply three
main divisions of the plan. The ju-
dicial, for example, requires a large
court room for the supreme court of
the State, rooms for the judges and
for the lawyers, rooms for the clerk
and sufficient library room to accommo-
date a large number of law books.
"The executive departments, Of
course, include the governor, Secrc-
tary of state, attorney general, pardon
attorney, auditor, treasurer, board OF
public works, road commission, health
commission, tax commission and
boards. This requirement is for a
large number of rooms all Of which
must be correlated for convenience in
the transaction of business. The legis-
lative section requires large rooms for
the senate and house Of delegates and
| committee rooms easily accessible
from them.
"a careful study has been made of
ell these conditions" continued Mr.
Gilbert. present space requirements
have been noted and acquisitions for
new space have been studied with the
view Of giving each department the
fullest possible accommodation.
"You ask me as 20 the architectural
style. 1t will be renaissance, ard, of
course, the exterior of the building
will be constructed of stone. Just what
kind of stone has not yet been deter.
mined and probably cannot Re Until
bids are received.
at is my desire that the building be
of very dignified and pure type of
architecture, something that will last
and be permanently approved by the
best public taste. Eccentricities Of
design will be avoided, for believe
that simple dignified structure of
fine proportions is far more satisfac-
tory in the long run than any amount
of elaborate embellishments, or SOCIAL
ed novelty of detail
There will really be two main fronts
one toward Washington street and
the other fronting Kanawha street.
The main length of the building will
parellel the Kanawha river. Entran-
ces to the building at each front will
be through coumned porticos on a
great scale and the approach will b
splendid flight of stairs on each
front
The whole structure will be crown
ed by dome of fantastic proportions,
rising to a considerable height, a..a
to be conspicuous landscape from
every point of view.
"The grounds will be designed will.
that Formally in harmony with a SYM
metrical building of its sort In other
words, the main lines of the building
will determine treatment of the
grounds, and all will be worked out
with careful reference to the best
type of landscape designing.
at is proposed to build a river wall
along the front of the grounds and
probably extending some little distance
up and down the river, so as to bring
about a widening of Kanawha street
and gain as much additional space as
possible for public use. Some wears
ago there were several piers located
at or near this portion of the river
bank, the piling of which is still Wis
ible. The lines Of this pier are now