Evening star., 1922-05-14

marked by the absence of superficial
and superfiuous ornamentaIion. But
nothing will be sacrificed to the detri-
ment of the welfare of those who may
enter the auditorium 1t will be fire
proof throughout. Thorough tests will
be made from time to time during it's
construction TO insure safety in every
detail.
Covers Triangle Block.
The building, which will be located
at 18th and E streets, with New York
avenue flanking one side of a tri-
angular block, will have a frontage
of 24S feet on the New York avenue
side. On 18th street. the frontage
will be 104 feet, and on Z street. 229
feet.
All of the supporting parts of the
building will be steel. The steel frame
will be erected complete before any
of the wafis. floors or roof will be
installed. and to insure detailed. per-
fection the architects have secured
the services of an expert engineer
from Pittsburgh. Pa, who will CO.
operate with their own engineers on
structural alignment.
Elliott Woods, architect OF the
United States Capitol, and Louis "A.
Simon. assistant supervising archl-
tect of the Treasury, will pass on
structural elements of the auditorium
Both these experts were profession
al advisers to the jury of award in
the competition for architects. IN
which the firm of Milburn & Heister
were successful competitors.
Exhibit Hall Planned.
The ground floor will contain an
exhibit hall, 152 feet wide and 1SS
feet in length. 1t will open on the
three street fronts. making it con-
Venient for exhibits of all types, one
enthusiastic member stating that any
sort of an exposition from locomo-.
tives to a dog show will be assured
Of accommodation. AS a matter OF
fact, it is believed the space would
permit a locomotive to be run into
the exhibit hall without any damage.
If such a requirement arose. 1t is
assured also that anything which can
be packed into freight car VIII De
accommodated in the exhibit hall.
About the hall will be grouped
rooms for smaller exhibits. IS well as
committee rooms. telegraph oHices,
rooms for correspondents, the entrance
lobbies and large kitchen and store
room so that the exhibit hall can be
utilized for large banquets.
The central feature of the building
will be the auditorium on the main
floor. which is to have seating
capacity of at least 5000, including
the auditorium in position to ac-
commodate many more persons than
any other building in Washington.
Memorial Continental Hall, which
was used for the limitation of arms
conference. has an auditorium which
is well filled to accommodate bit
more than a third that number.
Not only the main auditorium will
be available for concerts. lectures
and conventions. but also fianking
and adjoining rooms. which will run
seating capacity up thousand addi-
tional.
Entrance Lobbies Wide.
The entrance to the auditorium will
be from both the New York avenue
and the E street sides, through wide
entrance lobbies, opening into foyer
thirty-five feet in width and seventy
feet long. From this foyer entrants
may pass to reception rooms. check
ing rooms and other auxiliary COM
partments.
Entering the auditorium. one will
face massive stage, with a pro-
scenium. semi-circular in shape to in
width. The stage curtain opening will
be forty feet wide, and on each side
of the proscenium will be grouped the
boxes. On one side of the stage will
be rooms for high officials. speakers
and artists, with connecting recep-
on the other side may be used for
organizations, societies and clubs.
That's only the main floor. Walk
up the wide staircase to the meg
canine floor and one reaches an'as-
sembly hall having a seating capacity
of 800. One turns around and walks
into another room with seating ca
pacity Of 200, and on roaming about
bit finds three other rooms for use
of smaller meetings or groups. Also
nearby are found boardrooms, a
committee room and a dressing room.
20 Balcony Boxes.
Aside from the stage. the second
floor is to be utilized for seats.
Around the balcony rail will be
grouped twenty-six boxes. On this
floor also will be rooms of picture
machines. spotlights and stored arti-
cles. On each side of the stage space
on the floor will also be dressing and
reception rooms for artists, as well as
dressing rooms for principals and
choruses.
Above those boxes on each side Of
the proscenium will be space reserved
for organs. Echo chambers in the
rear of the auditorium and the pro-
scenium will be treated in lace pat
tern effect for the emission of sound.
When the committee was discuss
ing the large seating capacity the
question, as usual. arose. Suppose
when the building would have to be
emptied speedily?" Immediately the
committee got busy on plans for such
a necessity. And when the archi-