The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-15
SCHOOLS WILL
SEEK TO SAVE
HUGE AMOUNT
Architect and Engineer on
Salary Urged, to Effect
Great Economy.
S25o,oo0 IS EXPENDED
Fees Mount to Dizzy Height
Over Period of Three
Years Building.

More than quarter million dol
lars has been spent by the school
city for architects and engineers
fees in constructing sixteen grade
and high school buildings in the
last three years.
Total of these fees on the sixteen
buildings, erected at a cost of
S4,407,282. was found in data OBJ
tanned following discussion at the
school board meeting Tuesday night
of employment by the school city Of
an architect and engineer, on
salary, to prepare plans for new
buildings and additions.
1t has been pointed out by school
officials that an architect and an
engineer on salary could save the
school city a large sum Of money
over a period of years.
Architects and engineers fees
annually require at least a one-cent
levy in the school budget, it was
pointed out.
Politics Would Enter
On the other hand, Edward d.
Pierre, president of the Indianapo-
lis Architects Association, pointed
out that appointment of such a
school architect would be a political
appointment and as such would not
be for the best interests of the
school city.
During a heated debate Tuesday
night over plans for Schools 81 and
81, Mrs. Lillian v. Sedwick, board
member, asked President Charles
w. Kern:
why not have an architect take
the place Of the superintendent of
buildings and grounds and save all
that money!"
1.-THE state tax board repeatedly
has urged this" Kern replied, "but
architects and others have brought
influence in this matter, just as in
duence has been brought on plans
for Schools 81 and 3d."
Pierre said he had no knowledge
Of any pressure being brought to
bear by the association or any Of
its members in regard to school
work.
Pressure Is Charged
The pressure" referred to was the
statement of minority school board
members that architects were OPP
posing reuse of School IS plans for
Schools 81 and 81, because they
would lose architectural fees"
Personally, I am opposed to
Standardization of school buildings,
externally at least" Pierre said.
Each building is problem in it.
self. In planning the exterior, the
architect must consider the innedi-
ate neighborhood, orientation, size
and shape Of the ground and other
phases.
"By employing different architects
for different buildings, a variety Of
ideas is obtained and monotony in
outward appearance Of building is
avoided. A city's school buildings
help express the city's individuality.
Architects would be glad to CO.
operate in any way to work out a
more economical system Of design
ing. I am sure they all favor any
thing that would reduce costs of
school government operation"
Per Cent Is Fee
Customary fees for architects and
engineers on school buildings are
5 per cent of the amount Of the gem
eral contract, to the architect, and
5 per cent of the other contracts,
including plumbing, heating, ventil-
ating, and lighting, to the engineer.
Those favoring the plan Of a
salaried architect and an engineer
assert this would prevent a repeti
ton of expensive plans for Short
ridge high school, which cost a
total of $103,556.
Original plans for Shortridge were
drawn by the firm of Kopf e. Wool
ing, costing $43,775, which we're re-
jected. Later Kopf & Deery, sue
cessors of Kopf 81 Wooling, were
engaged to draw new plans, which
cost s59,781
The architects and Engineers
fees on the $4,000 Washington
high school were $26,810 Harrison
& Turnock received both the
architects and engineers contract.
Fees for Crispus Attucks high
school were $26,310, Vonnegut, Bohn
& Mueller had this contract.