Evening star., 1925-04-18
OFFICIALS INSPECT
SCHOOL STRUCTURE
Building Added to Armstrong
Held Superior to Many
in Other Cities.

Armstrong Technical High Schools
new addition, now nearing completion,
was inspected today by a delegation
of school officials and members Of the
Beard of Education. The inspection
party was composed of Supt. Frank
w. Ballou. First Asst. Supt. Garnet
c. Wilkinson, Asst Supt Robert l..
Haycock, Capt. Arthur G. Newman.
principal of the school; Dwight o. w.
Holmes. dean of the school of educa-
ton OF Howard University; George w.
Harrison, District school inspector.
and the following members of the
school beard Edwin c. Graham. Mrs.
Coralie f. Cook. Rev. +. ]. a. Bennett
and DR.. J. Hayden Johnson.
Every Room Closely Inspected.
Every room and construction fea-
ture in the new extension was studied
carefully by the delegation. DR.. Bal
lou pointed out its superior details, as
compared with new school buildings
observed by the committee OF school
planners during it's survey in Balti-
more, philadelphia, Rochester, Buff
falo and Cleveland.
The new building is devoid of strik-
ing or distinctive concentrations. and
DIR. Ballou explained that it was de-
signed primarily for service. Its large.
we'll lighted and ventilated rooms and
corridors made a deep impression on
the inspectors.
Represents Outlay of 1885. 900.
The annex represents total outlay
of $685., 900. divided as follows: Cost
of building, $500, 900; land, $95.000. and
equipment, $4,000. Although it will
not be ready for occupany until the
beginning of the new school term in
September. school officials expect TO
have the auditorium equipped for use
during Armstrong; commencement
exercises in June.
Opening of the new extension Will
permit the abandonment Of a colony
Of 13 portables which are used to pro-
vide accommodations for the overflow
from the present inadequate main
building, as well as four rented ga
RACES occupied by the automobile re
pair classes Of the school. Armstrong
student body numbers 1925 The
school building was designed to ac-
commodate 900. With the annex it
will house 1900 students.
Outstanding Feature Cited.
One of the outstanding features of
the extension is the auditorium which
has been modelled after the one in
the new Eastern High School, though
not as large. 1t is well lighted, has
large stage and a moving picture
projection booth in the rear of the
balcony with sufficient room for spot
lights. 1t also has an orchestra pit
inclosed with iron rails, feature
which cannot be found in any other
school auditorium in Washington, or
seen in any of the schools visited
IN, 81 hU
school planners.
The new building has the lunch
room on the top floor. 1t will be the
last school building erected under the
present school administration with
this unit on an upper floor. AS a
result of the investigation of the COM
mittee of school planners. DR.. Ballou
has been convinced that a school
lunchroom should be placed on the
first floor and will adhere strictly to
this policy in planning new buildings
to be erected under the fiVe-year
building program.
Lunchroom Equipment.
While the kitchen TO Armstrong;
lunchroom is separated by a wall,
arrangements have been made to
placed the steam table in the lunch
room proper The new plan of con-.
tendent calls for the separation OF
both the steam table and kitchen by
walls, so that the lunchrooms may be
converted into study rooms before ana
after meal periods. This idea DIR.
Ballou picked up in Rochester.
The inspection party commented
favorably on the arrangement OF the
various shops in the new addition,
which were designed to conserNe
space A balcony with LABORATORY and
locker facilities overlooks the shops.
The space under the balcony is to
be used for a store room.
Other Distinctive Features.
Other distinctive features observed
were novel swinging doors and speT
cially arranged domestic SCIENCE
| housekeeping and drawing suites.
Principal Newman told the fnspec-'
! ton party that the general layout for
| the addition was worked out by the
pupils in the mechanical drawing de-
| partment under the direction of their
| teacher, while the details were per
fected in the municipal architects
office.