Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-20
Design for Group Outlines
Placement and Arrange
ment of Buildings.
WAY is CLEARED FOR
PURCHASE OF LAND
Authorization to Buy Site and Pre-
pare Studies Helps Progress
of Project.

The new municipal center, grour
of buildings designed to house all gov.
ernmental activities of the District OF
Columbia, has taken on final shape, as
far as the main outlines of the build
ing groups, their placement and ar
rangement are concerned
The sketch reproduced herewith
drawn under the direction of Municipal
Architect Albert L. Harris, shows what
the group will look like when COM
pleted, The perspective is from point
1000 feet above the level of Pennsyi-
vania avenue, on which the group will
front.
In general, the design consists of two
groups of buildings, f1anking a court,
which will lead from the present Dis
trict Supreme Court to Pennsylvania
avenue The location will have SEN
timental interest, as the present court
house originally was designed as the
city hall, and the name city hail. often
is used today to designate the structure.
Starting from Pennsylvania avenue, a
flight of steps leads about Is feet to a
pool, which extends to D street.
Executive Building on Right Entering.
The first building on the right of a
person going up the steps is the execu-
tive building, to replace the present
District Building, which must be va
Gated by the municipal government to
make way for the Federal Government
Pennsylvania avenue Mall triangle
building program.
One of the features of this building
will be large auditorium. 80 by 1870
a. dab yrt1Ir ~;x,A t4A
District government its first appropriate
setting for large municipal affairs. The
nearest approach now is the board room
of the District Building, which is small
and inadequate.
This building will house all of the
activities now housed at the District
Building except the Police and Fire
Departments. The latter, with the
Traffic Bureau, will be located in the
first building to the left of a person
walking up the steps.
Library Designed.
North of this police building is
q building at present designed as
public library. The present Public
Library, on Mount Vernon Square, is
cramped for space, and so constructed
as to be difficult of enlargement. The
plans for the move are unprotected at
present, but it is expected that the move
eventually will be made. 1t will be no.
ticed that this library building has open
courts on either side, which could be
used for bookstacks to accommodate the
needs of the library as it would ex-
pand.
Next to the library building. the last
of the group on the west, is the court
building This will be the first to be
built, and already plans have been mace
for 1t with some degree OF exactness;
It will house the Police, Juvenile and
Municipal Courts. The building across
the court from this has not yet been
DESIGNATED, but probably will be used
for additional courts as the system ex-
pands. There is enough room to take
care of the court needs of the District
for at least SO years.
Land Purchase Is First Step.
The first step has been taken to
realize the dream of the municipal CEN
ter in the passage of bin at the last
session of Congress authorizing the
Commissioners to purchase the squares
bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, Third.
Sixth and D streets. Louisiana and IN
diana avenues, and authorizing appro-
priation Of $4,000 for preparation OF
plans and studies for group OF build
ings comprising municipal center.
1t is hoped that the next Congress
will appropriate money for condemna-
ton and purchase OF some OF the prop
erty. which would mean that the nrst
building operations on the center
could begin in the Spring OF 1881. In
that case the corner stone OF the new
building will be laid Ill years after the
original start on Washington's first
city hall.
This took place August %, 1920. and
in the words of the official invitation
to the corner stone laying the present
District Supreme Court Building was
intended to be IAN edifice devoted to
municipal purposes and TO be
the seat of legislation and administra-
ton of Justice for this metropolis when
it will have reached its. destined
populousness and to be erected
on scale worthy of the uses for which
it is intended also 10 De
constructed with view to durability
which will extend beyond the age OF
of whom ever viii witness the recur-
renee of such an event as the recur-
renee of the laying of the foundation
of this fabric
Architecture Is Classical.
The architecture of the entire group
Is described by Mr.. Harris as classical
but not severely so. 1t is designed te
harmonic with that of the Fedora
buildings to be built on the south sids
of the Avenue, two of which are shown
in the reproduction Owing to the steer
grade from Pennsylvania avenue NORTH
TO D street, with rise of 80 feet. TIT
northern buildings will be three stories
and the southern buildings five stories
The height will correspond to that o
the Federal buildings.
Something of an idea of the fina
cost of the group tan be obtained iron
Mr. Harris statement that the mrs
building, the one for the courts, Wi
cost not less than S5,000,000. This ma
be compared with the 81 ,968,870 II cos
to build the present District Bundint
Mr.. Harris computes the present valu
of the District Building and ground
on which it is situated at S5.3l9.284, a
asset which the local government mus
turn over to the Federal Governmer
without any guarantee of financial re
Enumeration, although an effort is TO
made by the District to be reimburse
to the extent of $5,000,000 1t will co:
se,4T0,000 to buy the land IN the lot
squares for the center and this cost .
well as cost of the new buildings ais
is to be paid by the District out OF Gull
rent funds.
The bright side of the picture. paint
ed by Mr.. Harris, however, Is the gre;
convenience which will result from
centralized housing Of all munlcip
government activities around one locs
ton It will allow economy OF admin
istration and operation and, give ade
ouate expression TO the important func
lions of the government of the Capita