Evening star., 1939-01-19
Model Airport
Buildings Are
Planned Here
Picturesque Setting
Of GroveI|y to
Be Enhanced

Airport buildings which are ex-
pected to rank as models for the
world are being planned for Wash
ington National Airport, at Gravelly
Point, as result of conferences
now under way between the Civil
Aeronautics Authority and the Pro-
curement Division of the Treasury
Department.
Intended not only to serve the air.
port more efficiently than any sim
liar group of buildings yet planned,
but also to take the best possible
advantage of naturally picturesque
site, the structural group, which will
house not only airport activities, but
also the Civil Aeronautics Author
ity, is expected to rank among the
most beautiful in the National
Capital
The site, on the hillside overlook
ing the airport, is magnificent for
the type of development being
planned" an official of the c. A. A
explained. The building group will
represent an entirely new concept
OF airport development"
The group of buildings is being
designed Ito provide magnificent
vistas across the airport and up
and down the Potomac River"
through the group, it was ex-
planned.
Planners Commended.
Officials of the C. A. A. are warm
IN their commentator of the Treas
ury Department planners who are
IN charge of actual design work
for the buildings. The Treasury
Department, they said, is demon
strating "a lively appreciation" of
the problems involved and is sparing
no effort to provide for utilitarian
needs and at the same time to
achieve the maximum in beauty.
Every consideration is being
gwen to the dignity of the National
Capital in the arrangement and de-
sign Of these buildings" it was
explained.
Because of the unusual charac-
teristics of the requirements and
site, the architects have been given
unusual opportunities for unique
and distinctive type of treatment,
1t was explained.
The ordinary airport today is a
square, rectangle or circle with the
buildings at one side or end in a
rather haphazard grouping, it was
explained. At Washington National
Airport, because of the nature of
the site, the buildings will form a
olunt point extending into the air.
port. which will surround them on
three sides.
Four Bids Studied.
Ihls arrangement will minimize
10 the greatest possible extent the
ef1ects OF the 50-foot hill on which
the Bureau of Public Roads high
way research laboratory buildings
now stand. At the same time it
Wi! insure that the new airport
buildings, on the slope of this hill
Will add nothing in the way of an
obstruction. "
Ihe local Army Engineer Office
today was studying four bids opened
Yesterday for dredging equipment to
handle the $4,000, 0O0-cubic- yard fill
at the Gravelly Point site. The bids
were described as very advanta-
geous' to the Government and it
was believed at least one of the
Tour large dredges offered might
negln work by the middle of
February. u
II the four dredges offered are
ootalned under contract they will
De able to pump an average of 1000
CUBIC yards of material into the air.
port site every hour, according to
preliminary Army calculations At
the rate of 500 working hours a
month these dredges would be able
10 complete the necessary FIJI in
elgnt working months, it is esti-
mated. '''A-