The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-18
ARCHITECTS FAVOR
STONE FOR FACING
ON STATE CAPITOL
Commissioners, However, Also
Will Ask For Bids on
Brick Structure
ACTION IS TAKEN SUNDAY
Chicago Men Vigorous in Sup
port Of Stone and Out
line Reasons

The state capitol commission, at a
meeting Sunday, formally went on
record in favor of considering brick
and stone for the exterior facing of
the proposed North Dakota state
house.
Specifications for the structure will
call alternatively for brick and stone
facing when bids are advertised about
June /. which is the approximate
date set for completion Of plans Of
the building design.
The action was taken by the COM
mission after receiving a report from
Holabird and Root, Chicago, associate
architects, recommending the use Of
stone for the exterior facing and
vigorously opposing brick for this
purpose.
G. A. Fraser. member of the COM
mission. said the commissioners be-
lieve both stone and brick bids should
be received. and that the question of
facing be determined after the COM
mission has had an opportunity to
study these bids.
VIII Study Problem
Regardless Of the type Of facing
used, the commission is giving serious
consideration to the use of brick and
tile In the walls of the building,
Fraser said. He estimated that ap-
proximately $50 carloads of brick and
tile could be used for this purpose.
II the plans are completed by June
!, as contemplated. Fraser said. the
bids would be advertised for six weeks
and contracts let about the middle Of
July. -
Holabird and Root submitted the
report regarding facing on the re-
quest Of the capitol commission for
an outline Of the architects reasons
for recommending stone facing.
1--WE have no hesitancy in select
ing stone" the report states. be-
cause it Is the natural and economic
product to use.
The other possibilities were granite,
marble. terra Gotta or brick.
Our reasons for the use of stone
are based upon our experience gained
in the design and erection of many
large buildings in various parts of the
country, which has given us an OPP
portunity to study the relative merits
Of various facing materials.
Granite, Marble Too Costly
Our use of stone on outstanding
large buildings has received recogni-
ton In the awards that we have re-
ceived from the American Institute
Of Architects and other bodies for
general excellence in the development
Of modern architecture.
Granite and marble would make
excellent facing materials but were
eliminated because of their excessive
cost.
Terra Gotta was never considered
because of our practical knowledge of
its structural limitations. Our exam
nation and repairs to many terra
Gotta buildings which were in vogue
and erected throughout the country
within the last 80 years, has caused
us to discontinue the use of this
material In large buildings.
Facing materials of a building are
directly dependent upon its design.
For example, In low colonial type
OF architecture, stone or brick might
be interchangeable, with a few
notifications Of design. This type of
building Is very generally associated
with groups Of buildings OF the same
design and height.
But when the design calls for a
monumental distinctive building of
great height, the use Of stone or
granite becomes imperative.
THE use Of stone in monumental
buildings dates back to the pyramids
and Is brought down through the
ages and exemplified In the most ia
nous buildings throughout the world.
Even Caesar found Rome a city of
bricks and left it In marble"
Is Veneer Only
The architects, in their report,
called attention that II the commits
sion. IN its consideration and approval
OF an exterior facing, has the one
thought in mind OF the use of a North
Dakota product, 1t should realize that
with q building faced with stone,
which Is only an exterior veneer, so
per cent of all the masonry materials
IN the general contracts would be
North Dakota products.
III a brick facing were used,
against our emphatic recommends
ton, then wherever ornamentation
Continued on mage seven)