Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-22
ARCHITECT RESIGNS
IN BUILDING DISPUTE
DeIoS H. Smith Named Sue
cesSor to Garry on Plans
for Rockville Edifice.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
Stan Correspondent of The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md, February a.
Differences of opinion over the design
for the proposed new county building
TO be erected here resulted last night in
the resignation of Rossell Edward Mitch
ell, the architect, who prepared the
original design, which was submitted
to- the National Commission of Fine
Arts, and which did not meet with the
approval OF that body. Lacy Shaw, vice
president of the Board of County Com
nlSSloners, announced that Mr.. Mitchell
mad resigned because of tie recommen-
cations of the Fine Arts Commission of a
type OF architecture, which had been
accepted by the building committee, and
with which he was not in accord.
troubles over the design of the pro-
posed building have been brewing for
months. but the committee had made
every effort to conceal them. The mat
Ter came to head when the original
design was sent to the National Com
mission of Fine Arts, and that body
recommended that in place of the lime
stone facing, it should be of brick with
limestone trim, type of architecture
known as the Georgian style, similar to
tnat used in school houses, police sta
IONS and engine houses in the District
of Columbia.
Design Approved.
The building committee yesterday APP
proved the new design submitted as a
result OF the Fine Arts Commission dis
approval of the first design, but this is
TO be entirely limestone facing. It was
SAID that the committee unanimously
approved this design. When the second
design was submitted to the Fine Arts
nody, that organization said that it was
.arcnltecturally sound" bat at the same
Time reiterated its opinion that the
Georgian style should be followed in the
proposed county building.
A1ter accepting the resignation of
MI. Mitchell, the committee named
DeloS II. Smith of Washington, architect
Tor the building, and gave him instruc-
tons to proceed with the preparation of
the detailed plans. It also appointed
the following committee on preparation
OF plans to meet weekly with Mr.. Smith
and go over them as they progress !:
capt. Chester Wells, George P. Sacks.
Berry E. Clark, clerk to the board of
county commissioners; Preston p Raw
clerk of the Montgomery County Circuit
Court; George E. Hamilton, DR.. Gilbert
GroSvenor, Lacy Shaw, vice president
OF the board OF county commissioners:
Otno II. W. Talbot, H. F. Taft and j
Roger Spates, mayor of Rockville.
Changes Made Necessary.
The new exterior design has made
necessary a considerable number of
changes in the interior of the BUILDING
and reduction of the size of the struce
ture as whole to keep it within the
money available at this time. The orig
NAL design for the building called for
a width Of 227 feet and a depth of 60
feet. The new designs will provide for
a width of 100 feet. with a possible re-
auction to $50 feet and a depth of 54
Ieet. The present court house will be
allowed to stand until some future time
when money is available to replace it
with one wing. The new design is
what is termed the Greek revival styIe
OF architecture in the early nineteenth
century. There will be a portico with
8 columns in the front and IL, steps
leading up to the entrance.