Evening star., 1927-09-22
Public Building Unity.


Under the plan pursued by the Pub
lie Buildings Commission in laying out
the project for the new Government
equipment in Washington there will
be both unity and diversity in the as
semblage of structures in the Mall
Avenue triangle. While the actual
designs for the individual structures
have been submitted by different
architects, the agreement upon gen
eraI plan of emplacement insures har-
mony in the whole. The preliminary
sketches now under examination at
the Treasury Department, though not
yet rendered available for public in
spection, will. it is known, assure this
effect of consistent individuality.
Long ago it was urged by The Star
that, instead of taking portions of the
Mall-Avenue triangle from time to
time for public building purposes, the
whole be treated as a unit and ac-
quired as such and utilized in this
manner. The first purchase in the
area was that of the so-called i've
square site at the western edge of the
triangle. 1t was then proposed by the
Government to erect three buildings
on that site. Had this been carried
into effect a serious mistake would
have been made. No one of those
three buildings would have been ade-
ouate in size. BY the time of the
completion of any one of them they
would have been outgrown. 1t was
early recognized that this was too
small a space for three buildings. and
it was proposed to place one Of the
group on the Mall itself, suggestion
which was promptly resisted. The
opposition then expressed was to good
effect, for, though it caused the post
ponement Of any start upon the public
building program, it prevented the
commission of an error that would
have had mischievous consequences.
Although the legislation is not yet
completed for the immediate pur-
chase of the entire triangle and its
treatment as a whole in building em-
placements. it is confidently expected
that IL will be enacted early In the
coming session. The preparation in
the plans has proceeded in accordance
with this belief. 1t is accepted as
assured that there will be no hesita-
tion on the part OF. Congress in author
izing the requirement Of the entire
tract. For it is now recognized that
only in this manner can the Govern
ment's needs be fully met and the
artistic effect OF consistent and har-
monious design and emplacement OF
structures surely result.
In the same way it is necessary to
proceed on a large scale in the pro-
vision Of sites for and the designing
of the units of the proposed municipal
center for the District. If the area Is
not taken as a whole in generous pro-
portions and the individual buildings
designed to form the components OF
a group, there will be a mixture OF
stvle and a confusion of location,
lessening both the efficiency and the
effect. The legislation for the Dis
trict municipal center should be
pressed as part of the program which
includes the acquisition of the Mall
Avenue triangle and the designing Of
the units for that greater area. The
two projects are related. The District
is now an occupant of part of the trl-
angle. 1t will probably be ousted from
it. Certain Of the units Of the munich
pal administration are already under
notice to quit. Is is therefore impera-
tive that the greater project of the
municipal center be made to march in
step with the Governments own pro-
gram.