F PROGRAM AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION IW^' FOR THE NEW BUILDING OF THE International Bureau of the American Republics WASHINGTON, D. C. MARCH, 1907 PROGRAM AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION FOR THE NEW BUILDING OF THE International Bureau of the American Republics WASHINGTON, D. C. MARCH, 1907 f'- FEB 6 ^90a PROGRAM AND CONDITIONS OF • Competition for the Selection of an Architect FOR THE New Building of the International Bureau of the American Republics, Washington, D. C. GENERAL STATEMENT. I. A building for the International Bureau of the Amer- ican Republics is to be erected in the city of Washington, on the property known as Van Ness Park, or, block South of 173, bounded by 17th and i8th, B and C Streets and Vir- ginia Avenue, comprising in all about five acres, with the East or 17th Street frontage on the White Lot or Execu- tive Grounds, and the B Street and Virginia Avenue front- ages on Potomac Park. IL Architects, or firms of architects, of repute, not ex- ceeding ten, will be specially invited to submit plans for this new building, and each of those accepting the special invi- tation will be paid tlie sum of $1,000, to cover the expense of the plans. in. A general invitation is hereby extended to all archi- tects of the American Republics residing in the United States to enter the said competition and to submit plans for the said building. The plans thus submitted in response to this general invitation will stand upon the same footing with the plans submitted by those specially invited. The names of those purposing to compete must be registered with the Director of the International Bureau of the American Re- publics, No. 2 Jackson Place, Washington, D. C., on or before the 30th day of April, 1907. To the (lesif^ner of the plan which is deemed to be first in merit among those submitted by competitors not speciahy invited but responding to this general invitation, and exclud- ing any plan which may be accepted for construction of the building, the sum of $3,000 will be paid; to the second in merit thereof. $2,000; and to the third, $1,000. It will be observed that both classes of competitors, those specially invited and those generally invited, have an equal chance to be selected for the construction of the building, and that only those who are specially invited have the certainty of the payment of $1,000 to cover the expense of plans, while only those who respond to the general invitation with- out being specially invited have a chance for the three prizes. IV. All the plans submitted under the foregoing invita- tions and competition will be passed upon by the Chairman of the Governing Board and the Director of the Bureau, assisted by a committee of architects, who will be selected after consultation wdth the competitors, and the architect submitting the accepted plan w'ill be chosen as the architect for the building. V. The successful architect must be ready to revise his drawings in accordance with any recommendations made by the Committee of Award. If the architect selected should be f^-om those in the open class and should not, in the judgment of the Committee of Aw^ard. be capable of carrying out the work on account of lack of experience, the Committee re- serves the right to require him to associate with himself some other architect, or firm, of wider experience acceptable to the Committee. VI. It is understood : ihat the architect, or firm of archi- tects, whose design shall be placed first, will be awarded the commission for the carrying out of the work to full com- pletion, on the basis of the schedule of charges adopted by the Anicr-can Institute of Architects, sn'd commission to be ])aid on all worlv necessary to complete the building readv for occupancy, with the exception of decoration, mural painting', and movahle furniture ; that no claim shah be made by a competitor for any fee, percentage, or payment whatever, or for any expense incident to or growing out of his partici- pation, other than is expressly provided for in the terms mentioned herein; that a competitor will forfeit all privi- leges under the regulations who shall violate any of the con- ditions governing" this competition, or who shall seek in any way directly or indirectly to gain' advantage by influencing in his favor any of those in control of this competition. VII. The right is expressly reserved to reject any and all designs and to re-open the competition, if, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Board, the plans submitted are not suitable in all respects, as to design, cost, materials offered, or if any revision recommended shall fail to make the design acceptable. The Committee of Award shall place out of the competi- tion any set of drawings in which the conditions of these regulations have not been observed, and examine those re- maining. No member of the Committee above mentioned shall have any interest wdiatever, directly or indirectly, in the designs submitted in this competition, or any business association w-ith, or employment by, any of the competitors. CONDITIONS GOVERNING DRAWINGS. I. All designs must be delivered to the International Bureau of the American Republics, Washington, D. C, on or before 2 p. m., June 15, 1907. Each set thereof, with its accompanying description, must l:)e securely wrapped, sealed, and addressed in typewriting to: "The Director, Interna- tional Bureau of the American Republics, No. 2 Jackson Place. Washington. D. C," with the words ''Building Com- petition" on one corner of the cover. 1 r. Each clcsis;ii suljiiiittcd niiust be plainly marked with the name of the building mider competition, namely, "New liuilding for the International JUn-eau of the American Ivepublics," and without any distinguishing mark or device whatever which might disclose or suggest the identity of the competitor. There must be enclosed with each set of drawings a plain white opaque envelope, within which the competitor will place a card or piece of paper bearing his name and ad- dress. The envelope must be securely sealed with a plain wax seal, having no impression, legend, device, or mark upon it which might disclose or suggest the identity of the competitor. TIL Upon opening, as soon as possible and convenient after the conclusion of the competition, the packages con- taining the drawings, the Committee of Award will num- ber the envelopes containing the names and addresses of the competitors, and will place corresponding numbers, re- spectively, upon each drawing, plan, specification, etc., sub- mitted by them and will preserve unopened the envelopes containing such names and addresses until the final selection shall have been made. Thereupon, all designs of other competitors will be re- turned to them and no use made of any part thereof, that may l3e original, without the consent of the author and with compensation therefor. None of the unselected draw- ings will be exhibited to the public nor to any compelitior without the written consent of the maker. IV: All designs must be on 28" by 3^)" W'lialnian pajior, unmounted. Each design submitted shall consist of each of the following drawings only (no alternate designs will l)e considered), enclosed in a porlfolii) or betwwn stiff card- board ; (a) Rendered elevation of East front, scale i/8" to one foot ; (b) Rendered elevation of South front, scale i/8" to one foot; (c) Sketch elevation of North front, scale 1/16" to one foot ; (d) Sketch elevation of West front, scale 1/16" to one foot ; (e) Plan of each floor including basement, scale 1/8" to one foot ; (f) Block Section through building, showing heights of stories and proportions of principal rooms, scale 1/8" to one foot. V. A description, not exceeding 1,500 words in length, typewritten on plain legal cap, calling attention to any spe- cial points of the design, materials to be used, including heating, lighting, ventilating, plumbing, finish of the build- ing, and other features not clearly set forth in the drawings, must accompany the plans. Perspective sketches must not be included, unless ex- pressly ordered by the Committee of Award in order to reach a final decision. All drawings must be in line only, in India ink, the plans and sections blacked in ; no objection will be made to putting a slight wash of color over the halls, corridors, stairways, etc., in order to show them more clearly, but there shall be no indication of tiling, mosaic, ceilings, or other embellish- ments. Furniture, like desks, and their location to lights and doors may be indicated, if desired, but only in outline with- out tints. Names and dimensions of rooms shall be lettered on each in black India ink ; no script or fancy lettering shall be used. One outstanding figure 6' high may be shown on the elevations to give the scale, but no other accessories shall be exhibited. COST AND CHARACTER OF COXSTRUCTION. I. The cost of the building- when constructed must not exceed, .in its entirety, Six Hun(h-ed Thousand Dollars ($600,000), including architect's fees, plumbing, gas piping, electric conduits and wiring, lighting fixtures, heating and ventilating apparatus, approved iixtures for library, includ- ing steel book stacks, etc., necessary to complete the build- ing for occupancy and use, saving and excepting mural dec- orations and painting, and movable furniture. II. While the architects are left free to develop their plans as they think best, it is suggested that they bear in mind that the building is to be the home of the International Bureau of the American Republics, an institution supported jointly by the twenty-one republics of America under an organization known as the International Union of American Republics, for the purpose not only of promoting commerce and trade among them, but of developing closer ties of peace, friendship, and association. The peoples of the major portion of these Republics are of Spanish, Portu- gese, or other Latin extraction, and it therefore may be de- sirable that the building should have a character and tone in harmony therewith. In this connection attention is called to the ideas embodied in the correspondence between the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Bureau and Mr. Andrew Carnegie, rejjroduced in the appendix. If the Spanish or Latin feature of a patio is included, it should have a sliding or rolling glass roof, in part, for protection against inclement weather or cold, but capable of being oper.ed in summer, while the ground surface of the p:itio should permit of the jjlacing of trees, flowers, and fountains. The building must be of fireproof construction, the ex- terior to have such materials as each competitor deems best for the execution of his plans. In short, both the exterior and the interior should be finished Nvith due regard to the specific purpose of the structure as outlined above and not as an average government office building. III. The proposed site of the building, already outlined in the "General Statement," is shown by an accompanying diagram, which gives the grades, curb lines, areas, etc., of the ground. The principal frontage will be towards the East, and consideration must be given the fact that the building will stand on a large block of ground, about five acres, open to inspection from all sides, especially from the East and Southeast, and having space for landscape garden- ing, driveways, approaches, etc. The land is on one of the principal corners in the scheme for the improvement of the park system of the District of Columbia. On account of the low elevation of one cohier of the ground, 8.70' above mean tide, it is probable that some fill- ing in will be required, but the expense of this is not included in the general statement of the cost of the building. The eventual level of the street at this point is indicated by the manhole of a sewer which is nearly 5 feet higher than the present grade. On the adjoining tract to the North, facing 17th Street, is the new building of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, and two blocks to the North is the Corcoran Art Gallery. DIVISIONS OF SPACE, ETC. Below is a statement covering the wishes of the Govern- ing Board of the International Bureau of the American Re- publics, as to divisions of space and other arrangements in the building, but no allowance is made for elevators, stair- ways, hallways, corridors, courtyards, etc. Ample accom- 10 iiiodations with abumlancc of lii;lit in these respeets nuist be provided. The principal necessary divisions of space can be described nnder the following g'cneral heads : 1. Administration Section — For the Director of the Bureau, staff, and employees of the Bureau. 2. Library Section — For the Columbus Memorial Li- brary, Reading Rooms, Stack Room, etc. 3. Assembly Section — For a large Hall, Reception and Committee Rooms. 4. Service Section — For heating apparatus, fuel, mailing rooms, storage, etc. The following dimensions are by no means absolute, but are intended to give a reasonable idea of the nuiuber of square feet required in the different divisions of space and rooms described : T. Considering "Administration Section." provision should be made for: ESTIMATED SQ. FEET. (a) Office of the Director of the I>ureau . . 600 (b) Cloak and Wash and Toilet Room (60), side room for a private sec- retary and two clerks (220), and small vault (30), all connecting with office of Director 310 (c) General Waiting Room betw^een offi- ces of the Director of the Bureau, and office of the Secretary of the Bureau 600 (d j Office of the Secretary of the Bureau (300). Cloak and Wash Room (40), with small adjoining room for stenographer (150) 490 (e) Offices of the Chief Clerk fjoo) and assistants (400) Tioo (f) Office of the Translator and assist- ants 400 11 (g) Room for Editor of the Bulletin, Statistician expert and assistants . . 465 (h) Room for Accountant or Bookkeeper and assistant (200), vault for keep- ing books, records, etc. (25) 225 (i) Room for correspondence archives, etc 300 (j) Two separate rest rooms, respectively for men and women of office staff, with toilet rooms adjoining 500 (k) Attendants' Room 100 4,590 'Considering the location of this section with reference to the points of the com- pass, the principal offices should be group- ed in the East and South frontages and the Southeast corner, with the offices of the Director, Secretary, and immediate staff on the second floor. II. Considering "Library Section," pro- vision should be made for : (a) Stack Room 2000 (b) Public reading room 1200 (c) Map and photograph room (with plenty of wall space) 800 (d) Periodical room for filing and circu- lation 800 (e) Receiving and distributing room ... . 480 (f) Three study rooms (180 each) 540 (g) Librarian's office 300 (h) Assistant Librarian 240 (i) Cataloguing room 400 (j) Accessions room 400 (k) Cloak room 150 (1) Lavatories, (separate for sexes) .... 200 (m) Vault for valuable archives 200 ■710 4.590 7,/io 12 The Library Section, while having the Stack Room, Reachng Room, etc., grouped together, should be arranged with refer- ence to easy access and consultation on the part of the .administrative, editorial, and statistical staff of the Bureau. For exam- ple ; The room for the statistical expert and assistants should be convenient to the consultation and reference rooms of the Library. The permanent fixtures, which are to be included in the cost of the build- ing, should be modeled after the most moderi> library arrangements. The Stack Room should be entirely free of wood- work, with steel stacks in tiers, and ad- justable metal shelves, the upper tiers being separated from the ones beneath by glass or other flooring that will provide plenty of light. The stack space should provide for 200,000 volumes. in. Considering "Assembly Section," pro- vision should be made for: (a) A large,- dignified, high-studded As- sembly Hall 6000 (b) Room for meetings of Governing Board 1200 (c) Four committee rooms, averaging 20' by 20' 1200 (d) Cloak Room for men 400 (e) Toilet . for men 100 (f) Cloak Room for women (300) with toilet (100) . 400 (g) A room for caterer's service 400 9.700 9./00 Grand Totrd 22,000 13 The Assembly Hall should be adapted to Inter- national Conferences or Congresses, and tO' other dignified gatherings, such as receptions to_ distin- guished visitors, addresses of men eminent in vari- ous callings at home and abroad, and should permit of decoration, ornamentation, and finish in har- mony with the purpose of the International Union of American Republics. IV. Considering "Service Section," ample provision should be made f or : . • Furnaces, fuel, sewerage connections, electric light and gas conduits and meters, janitor's quarters, scrub- women's room, lunch room for staff and employees, kitchen facilities (in connection with caterer's room), lesser employees' toilet rooms, mail room, bicycle rack room, binding room, and general distributing, packing and receiving room. There should be a covered ap- proach to the basement where books and mail matter could be received from and delivered to conveyances, without exposure to the rain or weather, and with ref- erence to distribution. This should be apart from the point where fuel would be received and ashes or dirt- removed. FURTHER DATA. This program sets forth, it is believed, full enough data as to cost and general requirements of the building, its con- ditions, locations, etc., to permit the competitors to present satisfactory solutions of the problem, but questions may arise or modifications become necessary. Should either of these conditions occur, all inquiries for additional informa- tion must be made in writing only to the Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics, 2 Jack- 14 son Place, Washington. D. C. and any answer or addi- tional information, embodying an essential modification, will be simultaneously communicated by mail to each competitor, but no information will be given after May 20, 1907. John Barrett, Director, International Bureau of the American Republics. \\\\SHiNGTON, D. C, March 28, 1907. 15 APPENDIX. GOVERNING BOARD of the INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS Correspondence and resolutions relating to the gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie for the building of the International Bureau of the American Republics and the Columbus Mem- orial Library. Resolution of the Governing Board and Letter of the " Secretary of State, Mr. Elihu Root, to Mr. Andrew Carnegie, approved at the meeting of December 19, 1906. Whereas, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Bureau of the American Republics has laid before this, the said Board, the following letter sent by him as Chairman to Mr. Andrew Carnegie, and has asked for the approval thereof by the Board; that is to say : Department of State, Washington, December 4, 1906. My dear Mr. Carnegie : Your active and effective co-operation in promoting better communication between the countries of America, as a mem- ber of the Commission authorized by the Second Pan-Amer- ican Conference held in Mexico ; your patriotic citizenship 16 in the greatest of American Republics; your earnest and Aveighty advocacy of peace and good will among the nations of the earth; and }()ur action in proxiding a suital)lc build- ing for the International Tribunal at The Hague, embolden me to ask your aid in promoting the beneficent work of the Union of American Republics, which was established by the Conference of Washington in 1889, continued by the Con- ference of Mexico in 1902, and has now been made per- manent by the Conference of Rio de Janeiro in 1906. There is a general feeling that the Rio Conference, the South American journey of the Secretary of State, and the ex- pressions of courtesy and kindly feeling which accompanied them, have given a powerful impulse to the growth of a better acquaintance between the people of all the American countries, a better mutual understanding between them, the estal)lishment of a common public opinion, and the reason- able and kindly treatment of international questions in the place of isolation, suspicion, irritation, strife and w^ar. There is also a general opinion that, while the action of the Bureau of American Republics, designed to carry on this work from conference to conference, has been excellent so far as it has gone, the scope of the Bureau's work ought to be enlarged and its activity and efficiency greatly in- creased. To accomplish this, a building adequate to the magnitude and dignity of the great work to be done is indispensable. \\\t\\ this view the nations constituting the Union have ex- pressed their willingness to contribute, and some of them have contributed, and the Congress of the United States has, at its last session, appropriated, to the extent of $200,- 000, funds available for the purchase of a suitable site in the city of Washington. With this view also the Confer- ence at Rio de Janeiro, on the 13th of August, 1906, adopted resolutions Ifwking to the establishment of a 17 "permanent center of information and of interchange of ideas among the Repubhcs of this Continent as well as a building suitable for the library in memory of Columbus," and expressed the hope that "before the meeting of the next International Amer- ican Conference, the International Bureau of American Republics shall be housed in such a way as to permit it to properly fulfil the important functions assigned to it by this Conference." Those functions are in brief to give effect to the work of the Conference, to carry out its resolutions, to prepare the work of future conferences, to disseminate through each American country a knowledge of the affairs, the senti- ments and the progress of every other American country, to promote better communication and more constant inter- course, to increase the interaction among all the Republics of each upon the others in commerce, in education, in the arts and sciences, and in political and social life; and to maintain in the city of Washington a headquarters, a meet- ing place, a center of influence for the same peaceful and enlightened thought and conscience of all America. I feel sure of your hearty sympathy in the furtherance of this undertaking so full of possibilities for the peace and the prosperity of America and of mankind, and I appeal to you in the same spirit that has actuated your great benefac- tions to humanity in the past to provide for the erection, upon the site thus to be supplied by governmental action, a suitable building for the work of the Union, the direction and control of which has been imposed by our respective Governments upon the Governing Board of which I have the honor to be Chairman, ii With great respect and esteem, I am. my dear Mr. Carnegie, \''ery sincerely yours, Elihu Root, Secretary of State and c.v-otTtcio Cliainnaii of the Goz'enii)ig Board of the Bureau of Aiiierieaii Republics. Andrew Carnegie, Esquire, Nezv York City. Xoze, therefore, be it resolved that the action of the Secretary of State, as Chairman of this Board, in send- ing the aforesaid letter be. and it hereby is, approved. Mr. Carnegie to J\Ir. Root: Xew York, January i, 1907. Hox. Elihu Root, Secretary of State and ex-officio Chairman of the Gov- erning Board of the Bureau of South American Republics, JJ^ashington, D. C. Dear Sir : I am greatly pleased that you and your colleagues of the South American Republics have done me the honor to sug- gest that I might furnish a suitable home in Washington for the Bureau of American Republics. The approval of your application by the Governing Board of the International Bureau and President Roosevelt's hearty expressions of satisfaction are most gratifying. You very kindly mention my membership of the first Pati- American Conference and advocacN' of the Pan-American 19 Railway, the gaps of which are being slowly filled. The importance of this enterprise ■ impresses itself more ahd more upon me, and I hf;pe to see it accomplished. I am happy, therefore, in stating that it will be one of the pleasures of my life to furnish to the Union of all the Republics of this Hemisphere the necessary funds (seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars), from time to time, as may be needed for the construction of an international home in Washington. The co-operation of our own Republic is seen in the ap- propriation of funds by Congress for the purchase of the site; and in the agreement between the Republics for the maintenance of the Bureau, we have additional evidence of co-operation, so that the forthcoming American Temple of Peace will be the joint work of all of the Republics. Every generation should see them drawing closer together. ^ It is a cheering thought that all these are for the first time, to be represented at the forthcoming Hague Conference. Henceforth they are members of that body, whose aim is the settlement of international disputes by that "High Court of \ations" or other similar tribunal. T beg to express to each and all of them my heartfelt thanks for being permitted to make such a New Year's gift as this. I have never felt more keenly than I do this New Year's morning how much more .blessed it is to give than to receive, and T consider myself highly honored by being considered worthy to provide the forthcoming union home, where the accredited representatives of all the Repub- lics are to meet, and I trust to bind together their respective nations in the bonds of unbroken peace. Very truly yours, Andrew Carnegie. 20 The President to Mr. Canieeie: -to' The Wihti<: House, Washington, January 2, 1907. Mv DEAR ATr. Carnegie: I am So much pleased at learning from Secretary Root what yon are going to do for the Bnreau of American Re- publics. Yon ha\e already done substantially the same thing for the cause of peace at The Hague. This new gift of yours has an almost, or cjuite, equal significance as far as the cause of peace in the Western Hemisphere is concerned, for the Bureau of American Republics is striving to accom- plish for this Hemisphere what The Hague Peace Tribunal is striving to accomplish for both Hemispheres. 1 thank you heartily. \\'ishing you many happy new years, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt, Resolutions approved by the Governing Board of the International Bureau of the American Republics at the meet- ing of January 30, 1907: Resolved, that the letter of Mr. Andrew Carnegie to the Chairman of the Board, dated January i, 1907, be received and filed and spread upon the minutes of the Board. Resolved, that the Governing Board of the Bureau of American Republics express to Mr, Andrew Carnegie its acceptance and grateful ai)preciation of his generous and ])ublic spirited engagement to supply the funds for the proposed new building for the Union of American Repub- lics. The Board shares with Mr, Carnegie the hope that the institution whose work will thus be promoted may fur- ther the cause of i^eace and justice among nations, and the sincere and helpful friendship of all the American Republics for each other. 21 Resolved, that the Chairman of the Board communicate a copy of the foregoing resolutions to Mr. Carnegie. The Governing Board of the International Bureau of the American Republics further resolves : 1. That the letter of the Honorable the Secretary of State, Mr. Elihu Root, to Mr. Andrew Carnegie ; the answer of this distinguished philanthropist and the resolution of the Governing Board accepting his splendid gift, be kept on file with the important documents of the Bureau; and 2. That the text of these letters and the resolutions thereon be artistically engrossed under the title of "Car- negie's Gift to the International Bureau of the American Republics," and properly framed, to form a part of the exhibit of the Bureau at the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Ex- position. UBRARV OF CONCRKS 000115Q1674 '*/^ >^SO \