Evening star., 1927-05-23
TRIANGLE DESIGN
UP AT CONFERENCE
Newly Created Board of
Architectural ConsuItants
Begins Sessions.

The architectural design to be
adapted to the entire big triangle
bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, Fiji
teenth street and B street, was taken
under advisement today by the newly
appointed board of architectural con-
sultants, meeting at the Treasury De.
partment.
All problems in the various pro-
posals sent forward for the different
kinds of development for the triangle
were understood to be before the
board.
Although no official announcement
was forthcoming early today, as the
architects were still in session, it was
understood that the Treasury had
hopes of obtaining recommendations
from this meeting.
Big Problem Considered.
The problem over which there seems
to be most difference of opinion so
far, and involving the greatest change
in the present plan of the triangle
development in the public building
program, is whether the buildings
should all be connected or separated.
The Public Buildings Commission
has already approved a plan for sep
arate buildings, but a proposal has
been brought forward, fashioned some
what along the lines of the famous
Louvre in Paris, for connecting all
the buildings in the triangle together
in one facade and arching over the
necessary cross streets. The new pro-
posal would provide, also, it is under
stood, for a huge court in the middle
Of the triangle. Were this new plan
adopted considerable change in the
tentative plans for buildings selected
for the triangle would have to be
made.
Considerable more agreement ap-
pears to exist over the new proposal
for treatment of the west end of the
triangle, another question before the
board today. The new plan for this
end would eliminate the Department
of Justice Building, on the southeast
corner of Fifteenth and Pennsylvania
avenue, so as to provide great park
way or plaza running almost to D
street.
Plans Lack Approval.
The plaza proposal has not been
formally approved by the Treasury
or the Public Buildings Commission,
but Is has received very generally
much favorable comment, and accord
ing to present indications will prob
ably be adopted unless the Board of
Architectural Consultants today should
advise against 1t.
The Department of Justice Building.
planned for the Poll Theater corner.
would necessarily have to be located
elsewhere under the plaza plan, which
would turn the Poll site into a great
open space for parkway treatment and
additional traffic arteries. Secretary
Mellon is heartily in favor of the plaza
plan as improving the old system both
from the standpoints of appearance
and traffic.
The board in the Treasury today
had before it great array of maps.
sketches and colored designs, setting
forth the various proposals in graphic
display.
Members of Board.
Members Of the board are E. H.
Bennett of Chicago, special architec-
tural adviser to Secretary Mellon;
Louis Ayres of New York City, men,
Der of the firm of York & Sawyer.
which has contracts for sketches and
plans for the Department of Com
merce Building on the west end of the
triangle; Arthur Brown, jr., Of San
Francisco: Milton b. Medary, Jr., or
Philadelphia, member of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis-
sion and president of the American
Institute of Architects; William a.
Delano of New York City. member of
the Fine Arts Commission, and Louis
A. Simon, superintendent of the archi-
tectural division, supervising archi-
tect's Office of the Treasury Depart
ment.
This imposing array of talent which
the Government has been able to call
to it's assistance in solving some of
the greatest city-planning problems
presented since the days of George
Washington, were in their first session
today. and it was hoped by the Treas
ury that some concrete result might
be Forthcoming.
Virtually every associated Govern
ment body interested in the building
program was represented on the board
of architectural consultants.