Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-18
The Triangle Building Plan.


With the adoption of a general plan
for the treatment of the Mall-Avenue
triangle in the emplacement of the
Government buildings designed for To-
cation therein, the Public Buildings
Commission establishes the principle
of park settings for these new hous-
ings. Moreover, it is now assured that
so far as present conditions permit
the Pennsylvania avenue frontage of
this new array of structures will be of
a monumental character. harmonious
and highly effective.
The proposal for a continuous IA
cade throughout the length of the
northern side of the triangle is not
adopted, though 1t is planned to mark
the street openings, with one excep-
ton, with archways, that will serve
both to afford communication between
the structures and to establish the
idea of virtually unbroken frontage.
The effect of this treatment is certain
to be strikingly impressive.
A feature Of the plan which has
been adopted that calls for especial ap.
prevail is the arrangement for great
circle and adjacent interior park in
the western and wider portion of the
triangle. Behind the walls of the
structures will thus be found this area
of grass and trees, doubtless with
fountains.
This is precisely, in principle, the
mode of triangle treatment that has
been urged repeatedly for many years.
It has been obvious that economical
use of the land could not be had by
adhering to the square-and-street sys-
tenn without such crowding as to give
the whole the effect of a commercial
utilization Of space. Only by ignoring
street lines as far as possible and the
treatment of the triangle as a whole
could the park-setting result be ac-
complished.
In the Encouragement of the build
ing emplacements adopted by the com.
mission the Department of Justice will
be located on the present site of the
Center Market, giving it a central po-
sition. This definitely assures the final
and probably early elimination of the
market center, which has already been
attacked from the western side in the
provision of a. site for the Internal
Revenue office. Inasmuch as the De-
partment of Justice is one of the first
group of structures to be erected, un-
der the now prepared plan. it is as
sured that arrangements must be very
promptly made for the establishment
of the market center at some other
point in the city.
This question Of the market center
was studied to some extent last Win
ter. but without definite conclusion.
1t will have to be attacked anew in
the near future and decision reached
without delay. for the Federal Govern.
ment will soon be drawing its specific
plans for the Justice Building, and the
old structure standing on the north.
ern side of the Mall between Seventh
and Ninth streets win have to be RACED
to make way for it.
Mention is made in the announce.
ment of the Public. Buildings Commits.
sion's decision that no sites are named
for new structures on the north
ern side OF the triangle between Elev.
enth and Fourteenth streets. This
area includes the Post Office and the
. District Buildings. AS for the latter
It hts perfectly into the picture that
has been drawn Of the Mall-Avenue
treatment, and will undoubtedly re-
main. perhaps to be added to or sup
plemented. The former. the great
gray-granite structure, with its tower
is decidedly not in harmony with any
scheme that can be now devised. Its
future should not be regarded as doubt
full. 1t should be considered as ar
item OF early replacement in a style
consonant with the general effect 70,
which this present plan has beer
drawn.