Evening star., 1927-11-12
WORK ON BUILDING
WILL START SOON
Agricultural Administration
Structures Excavation MAY
Be Begun Next Month.

The great Department of Agricul
ture housing project, for which
Congress already has authorized
$7,750,000, reached an important stage
of progress today when 1t was learned
that bids viii be opened December s
for excavations for the new Admins.
tration Building. connecting the two
white marble wings already on the
site. and for relocation of the heating
system tunnels.
Bids will be advertised November 90
for this work, and 1t is expected that,
following the opening of bids Deeem.
Der s. 1t will be possible for ground to
be broken about the middle of
December
Other Plans Progress.
AT the same time, 1t was learned
steady progress is being made on the
plans for the extensible building which
is to be erected Immediately south of
the new administration structure on
land across street southwest. This
large extensile building eventually is
expected to cover about three blocks
along e street and, according to the
plans under way, will be very much.
In shape, like the huge Bureau of
engraving and Printing plant. 1t
Will have frontage of a single build
ing running along B street with wings
eXtendlng southwark at intervals
This design is also similar somewhat
to that used in the Navy Department
ana Munitions buildings on the Mall
speed is being made on both of these
nulldlng nlans by the Treasury i'm or.
aef 10 relleVe as soon as possible the
housing congestion and separation OF
agencies in the department. which ac
cording to all officials concerned. con.
stitutes one of the most urgent hons.
| ing necessities in the Federal Govern.
| ment
The working plans for the admins.
tration building, on which excav walton
Will start about the middle of next
month. are being rushed along and
put into scientific form for the enoi.
heers. carrying out the designs de.
veioped by the architects. Rankin d
Kellogg OF Philadelphia. The work.
ing plans themselves are being done
in the Office of the supervising archi.
tect of the Treasury.
Will Dominate Gr0up.
The new administration building TO,
| the Department of Agriculture, as
! disclosed by the designs at the Treas
| ury, will he a dignified, impressive
| structure, dominating the entire com
| position formed by it and the two
| marble wings already standing.
| The new building is to he placed
| between the two wings, hut il tc
extend it's front sufficiently farther
north than the fronts of the two
wings to give the new building a
position of commanding importance
| The facade of the new structure will
be about 90 feet north of the pres
ent. wings. The new building will ex.
tend southwark toward b street. 1t
will be connected with the wings by
corridors.
| The new building will also be con.
siderably higher than the wings. The
front Is given an artistic treatment,
| including an impressive colonnade.
! This colonnade rests upon what is
called a rusticated basement Of stone
arches. The colonnade. of classic or
der, is terminated at the top by So
called attic" treatment. providing
space for an inscription in stone de
| pictlng something of the significa nee
of agriculture.
Original plans Of having a dome on
| The roof Of this building were aban.
| doned.
| Connection Is Planned
The administration building will ex
tend southWard To a point not quite
so near the curb as the south front
OF the two wings But it is planned
10 connect this south front in some
fashion with the new extensible build
| ing immpdiatele arrosa Il Strnet SotIt n
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