Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12

stimulating 10 the human Douy,
science now turns against city atmosphere and
proposes windowless buildings as the most eco
nonaical eficient and desirable structures and
more beneficial to the present habits Of civilized
men.
Science is not trying to discard nature. But,
having torn materials out Of the earth TO erect
buildings into the sky and polluted the air, en-
gineers, chemists and physicists are now con-
trolling an artificial world
Steps 70 shut ourselves away completely from
sunlight and natural air have already been
taken.
The Atlantic City Convention Hall is the
largest room in the wurld-spacious enough to
seat 10000 persons there is not q win
dow In it.
In the Grand Central Palace in New York
there is q floor space Of 1900 square feet, or
an entire city block. This is lighting insti-
tute where all sorts of illumination problems
are studied and solved. 1t contains model
school room for IS persons auditorium for
$50, an art gallery, street with diversity Of
store windows and q variety Of other rooms and
exhibits The entire space has been lighted and
ventilated by artificial means and there is not
. window in 1t through which sunlight may
enter.
The most famous Berlin film corporation re-
Gently built huge studio without pane Of
glass. The plans for the vast Travel and Trans
port Building for the Chicago Worlds Fair Of
1893 do not provide for a single window pane
IN its massive walls.
THESE are not ordinary buildings. but they
are the beginnings of idea which has
the support of practical men who see the great
advantages in walls Of stone with the sunlight
beating vainly upon solid and impenetrable con-
gtruction. The idea seems strange and fantastic
when IT is first presented, but it is not 30
startling If we remember that engineers now
manufacture weather of any degree of moisture
and temperature control air movement by cleo
txic fans and have gone 80 far IN the art Of
artificial lighting that daytime sports are being
played in the hours after sunset
Engineers connected with several of the fore
most corporations of the country are consider
ing the subject seriously for business structures,
and Dan c. Lindsay, former expert in the Blu
reau Of Standards in Washington expresses the
opinion that the use Of ir-conditioning systems
IN large hotels and theaters may result In the
erection Of many windowless buildings within
the next 10 years.
The development Of air conditioning led to a
study Of the leakage Of air around windows,
calling attention to the necessity Of inventing
alright frames as air conditioning was impaired
by the atmosphere from outside Engineers
studying building In st. Louis found that,
with fair wind blowing, about 60 cubic feet
Of air leaked In around each window each
minute.
With the discussion Of alright frames for
windows, the question Of eliminating glass IN
favor Of artificial light came to the FORE
Electric light can supply as good illunina-
ton as the sun for the interior Of homes and
skyscrapers, says Mr.. Lindsay, and the great
fans used In the ventilating systems Of many
theaters could supply more and freSher air
than that which now enters through our
windows
Buildings without windows would cost less to
construct, he declares, and by extending them
below the level Of the ground much valuable
space could be saved. The windowleSs building.
In his opinion, would be easier to heat In Winter
and easier to keep cool In Summer.
While the average man considers window as
valuable source of light and air, Mr.. Lindsay
says the only use is the view it affords
Windows, declare building experts, Lei In the
cold and let out the heat AS skyscrapcrs grow
taller large sections Of every building are
doused in constant gloom, and nobody will