Evening star., 1960-09-17
Lafayette So. TO Get
Smaller Courthouse
Two, Not Three,
Courts Slated
In New Building

IN new DuIlQIn9
Two courts instead of three
will be housed in the proposed
new United States courthouse,
to be constructed in about two
years on the east side of Lafay-
cite Square.
The General Services Admin
istration announced yesterday
it has accepted recommended
tionS by the National Capital
Planning Commission and the
Fine Arts Commission to limit
the planned $12 million struc-
ture to hold only the United
States Court of Claims and the
United States Court of Customs
and Patent Appeals.
At one point, it was consid-
cred to build a structure large
enough SO it could also house
the United States Tax Court.
But the GSA announcement
said such a structure has been
determined as not feasible con-
sidering the site and setting.
Privately, a spokesman for
GSA added that the decision to.
go ahead with the smaller
structure will mean the old
Belasco Theater as we'll as the
Dolley Madison and Benjamin
Tayloe houses on the east side
Of the historic square will have
to be razed to make room for
the new court building.
Hoped to Save Theater
There had been some hope
that a new structure to house
only the two courts instead of
all three might mean the Be-
lasco Theater could be saved.
Congress adopted a resolu-
ton in June approving con-
struction of the court building
but instructed that a study be
made to determine if it would
be feasible to house all three
courts. 1t was urged that de-
sign Of the new building be in
keeping with the historic and
esthetic atmosphere of Lafay-
cite Square.
GSA also plans a SAL million
building to house executive Of
t1ces on the western side of the
square on jackson place, which
should get under constructicS
IN a year if funds are available.
Both buildings have been
authorized by Congress but
only planning funds have been
appropriated.
President Eisenhower recently
urged officials, in studying de-
signs for both of these build
lngs, to be sure the designs are
harmonious with the sur
roundfngs, dignified and con-
serVative to degree that will,
beyond any doubt, enhance the
beauty of the whole square"
Architect Chosen
GSA has selected the Boston
architectural firms of Perry,
Shaw, Hepburn and Dean and
of Shepley, Bulfinch, Richard
son and Abbott to prepare plans
for the court building. The
same two firms are now prepar-
ing the design for the executive
Office building for the other
side of the park.
GSA Administrator Franklin
Floete noted that members of
both firms have been connected
with the Williamsburg CVa) res
toration. One of the architects.
Henry R. Shepley, is a former
member of the Fine Arts Com
mission and has recently served
on the State Department Arch
itectural Advisory Board.
The GSA also announced
that John McShain Inc, the
Philadelphia construction firm.
has been awarded a $13,l92. 900
contract to build Federal Office
Building No. 8 to house the Civ
II Service Commission and other
Federal agencies. The building
VIII be located between Nine
teenth, Twentieth, D and E
streets NV, near the Interior
Department.
This is the first of six new
Federal buildings soon to be
started in the downtown area
It will be completed in about
212 years.