The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-03
AUDIT DRUM
 SEATS 5,980. IN NEW PLAN
Commission Approves and Orders Final Draft, Check cd by Lamb, Formally
 Submitted Within
 Sixty Days

Birmingham's municipal auditor ium project was given new impetus Friday afternoon when architects in charge of plans were instructed to draw up complete plans and specifications in time for the build ing contract to be let before May 15, after the city commission had unanimously approved preliminary plans submitted.
 In accordance with the contract between the city and the associated architects, the plans must be checked by Thomas w. Lamb of New York. This check is expected to take two weeks time. Six weeks will be required for the drafting of complete plans and specifications, architects stated Friday.
 Seating Capacity, S,0S8.
 Seating capacity of 5,9S0 is proviI- ed for in the sketches sUk:c.!rted by the architects. The building will be of the arena type. 172x25S feet. Pre- liminary estimates place ,:e cost al S46S,055, with the exception of the seats This includes an allowance O. per cent for contingencies and per cent for architects fees.
 Items included in the cost estimate 2 are: General contract, $3+S,76S.SJ. heating and ventilatlnG, @5J,50U: eiee- trio fixtures and wiring, S30,0UU. plumbing, s12.00o.
 Several items included in the speci- fications will be taken out to bring the cost within the amount available, about S440,000, President b. F.. Me Lendon stated. Among these are a ceiling. concrete walk approach to the building and partitions in the walls between the auditorium and committee rooms. He pointed ou. after the building is constructed, if funds were made available.
 Interior Is Spacious.
 Interior dimensions under the plans submitted are spacious, the arena portion being 100 by 1S0 feet. Grand opera can be presented, the stage being 40 feet wide and 45 feet deep, With proscenium arch of 60 feet. An ample orchestra pit is pro- vided. Sixteen dressing rooms are arranged III IOuT lleTS. ENCeIltiil lighting effects are made available through a complete switchboard.
 Every person seated in the audi torium will have a clear view of the stage, the plans show, with no posts to interfere. The main floor will contain 2.604 seats, the amphitheatre type section 2.2o6, and the gallery will accommodate 1.120 persons.
 Entrance will be through ves- tibue 1Ox7S feet. inclosed by double doors. On either side of the foyer will be ticket offices, a managers office and a committee room. A sec ond floor foyer allows ingress to the upper seats in the amphitheatre and gallery Two large exits are to be placed at either side of the building and separate gallery entrance is to be provided.
 Seven Committee Rooms.
 Seven committee rooms are to be provided for along either side of the buildings. Three have sliding doors to vary the size of the room. These rooms are 15 feet wide and from 2S to A feet Geep.
 A concrete walk 70 feet wide and 72 feet long will extend from the street to the main entrance. The structure is to be placed on the back of the auditorium site so that future additions may be readily made, the architects explained.
 Members of the commission were enthusiastic over the plans, pro- nouncing them the best yet presented from every angle. They stressed the need for prompt action.
 Hugh Martin, John A. Miller and Eugene IT. Knight represented the architects at the conference.