Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-10-18
SEE BETTER TREND
IN j. S. BUILDINGS
Leading Architects Join
Roosevelt in Praise of
New Designs.
By the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, October 18--Arcni-
tects generally expressed agreement
last night with President Roosevelt's
assertion that the Federal buildings
erected during the last four or five
years are an artistic improvement
over the terrible monstrosities" Of
another day.
They likewise concurred with the
President when he said, at the laying
of the corner stone of Poughkeepsies
new post Office last week, that the de-
preston had enabled the Government
to obtain the services of many archi-
tects who might otherwise have been
engaged in private practice.
There is no question about the SUI
perority of present-day design in Gov
eminent buildings" said Arthur l..
Harmon, president Of the New York
chapter of the American Institute
of Architects. The same is true
throughout the country in private
practice.
1T must be so, for the Government
draws from the great reservoir of pri-
vate initiative
Points to Big Problem.
Harmon. member Of the firm
which designed the Empire State
Building, said the Government al
ways was faced with the problem of
avoiding inferior work and favoritism.
Our Government, particularly in
the Treasury Department, has met the
problem during the depresSion-which
we still have with us in the building
industry--by taking architects and
their craftsmen from private employ
ment." he said. They were able to
get excellent talent, because of the
lack of employment in private prac-
tice
ut would be better for the archi-
tectural profession as a whole, and
therefore for the Government, If the
Government would join with the archi-
tects in evolving a method by which
It's buildings could be designed by
architects in private practice.
The governments. State, Federal
and city, are in danger of killing the
architectural goose that lays the
golden egg of artistic excellence"
Suggests Competition.
Prof. Leopold Arnaud, acting dean
of the Columbia University School
of Architecture. said he was in per-
feet accord" with the Presidents re-
marks on Federal architecture.
1T is very true" he said, that IN
the last five years or so the archltec-
ture of Government buildings has i'm
proved a great deal.
There is some regret among the
younger architects that Government
work is not given out on competi-
tive basis. Such procedure would
give the younger men an opportunity
to do some of the work. This would
allow for greater choice, more va
siety of design"
Dean Arnaud said it also was to be
regretted that Government architects
had chung so long to conservative, ira
ditional lines.
Architecture is changing" he
said. land Government buildings, like
private structures, should express the
change. The practical requirements
of the present day do not fit in with
the old form
l.. Andrew Reinhard, member OF
one of the firms which designed the
huge r. C. A. Building in Rockefeller
Center, declared the Government had
been getting some very fine stuff"
In the last few years.
The depression sent some excellent
architects into Government service,
end they have been doing fine work"
he said. I'm glad the President gave
them credit for it."