Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-29
Civic Center
Includes Plan
For Large Hall
Site Studies Continue
As Agency Moves
To Resolve Dispute

NA0NAAAS 0ASH0NVS AoNAAOACo Az
the inaugural ball.
The center's structures Will b.
so designed that the size of TIN
hall can be changed with slidinI
panels. There also will be q mum
Der Of meeting rooms, so tina
conventions can break up int
small discussions groups.
Other major structural com
ponentS will include a hall TO
orchestral events, a theater TO.
drama and ballet and two restau
rants-one offering food a
moderate" prices and the othe
lat higher rates.
There also will be a numbe
of special facilities for cultura
and educational purposes, high
lighted by mass communica
ton system and an ambitious
service program for tourists.
General Plans Okayed
These provisions of the plans
were disclosed by Mrs. Agnes E
Meyer, chairman of the District
Auditorium Commission.
The commission approved
earlier this week general plans
for the large center, submitted
by the commissions advisory
planning board. made up Of
leading architectural and engi-
neering officials. The plans, az
approved, are flexible enough to
be adapted to whatever site the
commission decides to recon-
mend.
All these recommendation
will be contained in a report tt
be submitted to Congress by the
end of January.
Mrs. Meyer emphasized that
elements of the plan stress ar
educational and cultural
approach.
The tourist program will b
aimed particularly at guiding Thu
thousands Of visiting high schoo
students.
Mrs. Meyer stressed that fur
ther studies are under way or
sites, and said the auditorium
project will require a minimum
of % acres.
She elaborated on the PLAN
to a reporter after discussing
them in general terms at {
luncheon meeting of the Sorop.
tomist International Club yester'
day.
Communications Setup
At the luncheon, she said TIL
communication system woult
permit meetings such as United
Nations sessions to be beameG
directly into the center.
The plans, she said, are de,
signed to provide best possible
facilities for visiting artists from
other nations, as we'll as to pro
vide an outlet for the best il
American talent.
In answer to questions at tn,
luncheon, Mrs. Meyer sale
Washington newspapers edito-
rally have been "unscientifiC
and arbitrary" in commenting
on site possibilities which "re-
quire the most careful study BY
experts"
This was an apparent refer
ence to views in favor of a loca-
ton in the Southwest Area c.
Iredevelopment project.
At a closed meeting today. the
District Redevelopment Land
Agency decided to try to clear
up any question about suitable
lily of a large site in the South
west redevelopment project fol
the auditorium.
Suggestions Sought
The agency decided to write
to the Auditorium Commission
and to the firm Of Webb &
Knapp, which drew the redevel.
opment plan asking each to make
any suggestions for changes In
the plans architectural feature;
that might make it more attrac.
tive. The RIA said it recognized
that the commission had it,
own strict standards to meet bui
that 1t was anxious to get fullest
possible consideration for thu
Southwest site.
Commission sentiment ha.
leaned toward a site in FoggS
Bottom If it is available. Such
a site may not be available, how
ever. unless city and Federal
planners agree on a new route
for the Inner loop" highway
system in that area.
Mrs. Meyer has insisted that
the commission has reached nc
firm decision on any location
She said earlier this week that
site studies under way encom-
pass several" possibilities which
may be suitable If available.