Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-14
Old Buildings to Stay
On Lafayette Square

The Kennedy administration
has junked plans to build two
large Federal buildings on La
fayette Square, deciding in
stead to retain historic houses
once slated for demolition.
A new concept of small Fed
eralist style buildings along the
fringe of the park is being de-
veloped instead.
The small buildings would
house executive offices. To-
ward the interior of the block,
building heights might rise.
But the tree shaded streets of
the historic park would retain
a Federalist flavor partly orig
inal and partly copied.
The new plan calls for saving
the Dolly Madison and Tayloe-
Cameron Houses on the east
side of Lafayette Park, about
eight 10th Century town houses
on the west side of the park
and, hopefully. the old Court
of Claims Building on the
northeast corner Of Seven
tenth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., NV.
AS under the old plan, the
historic Decatur and Blair-Lee
Houses in the Jackson place
block would also be retained.
Contracts Terminated
Architectural contracts with
two Boston firms have been
terminated, according to one re-
liable source. A spokesman for
one firm, reached by telephone
in Boston, said the contract
obligated him to refer any
queries from the press to the
GSA.
The Boston architect, re-
tanned by President Eisen-
hover. proposed a large execu-
tive office building on the west
side of Lafayette Square. 1t
stirred considerable debate. AS
the design grew it took on a
kind of anonymous shape fitted
between historic houses which
were to be retained.
The National Capital Plan
ming Commission approved the
precise location and precise
heights of the plan for the
larger building, however.
Walton's Influence Seen
Artist William Walton, a
friend and close adviser of the
Kennedy family, was among
the most critical Of the monu-
building concept on the
square. He repeatedly was in
Strumental in directing the adj
toward the new
broader concept.
The GSA said the successor
firm to the Boston architects
was John Carl Warnecke and
Associates, Of San Francisco.
Their architects have been at
work for several weeks in a
small building across Pennsyl-
vania avenue from the White
House on the square.
The San Francisco firms job
Is to map a master plan for
the square relating complex
factors Of architectural and
landscape design to its historic
character"
A GSA spokesman said the
San Francisco firm has been
awarded a $1.o96,5OO contract
and been given about 65 weeks
to develop a new master plan
and design buildings involved.
Historic structures on the
square will be combined with
new structures possessing a
harmonious relation with exist
ing buildings" GSA said.
The aim of Government of
ficials is to provide a quiet
and dignified setting for the
White House"
Designed Notable Building
The California firm has de-
signed buildings such as the
United States EN- assy at
Bangkok, Thailand. In the last
10 years, the concern won 81
national and regional awards
for excellence in design. Rep
licas of its projects are in mu-
SeumS throughout the world.
according to the GSA.
Two major buildings must be
worked by the firm into its
master plan" These are a new
office for the Presi-
dent and a new building for
the United States Court of