in his own domain to that of the city or town in which he lives. Manufacturers, usually the quickest to recognize anything that tends to efficiency, are already taking cognizance of this. Notable instances of what improved surroundings will accomplish are to be found in the plants of the National Cash Register Company of Dayton, Ohio, and the new plant of the General Electric Company, Cleveland, either of which will well repay careful study, by prospective builders of manufacturing plants. In both the instances named there will be found an esprit de corps among the employees and an emulation in every branch which means actual money value to these companies.
This is not a plea for the use of expensive materials, but for such a study of proportions as will make the simplest building a source of pleasure instead of abhorrence, as many of them are at present. This can be secured by careful study and the knowledge of how to use materials without adding a dollar to the cost, and in some cases actually decreasing their cost.
Turning from industrial work to other branches, we find very few monumental buildings either under way or contemplated. Few if any of the States have proposed any new buildings, but are confining their efforts to such as had been previously authorized and put under way. Nor will there probably be a great amount of such work for some years to come. The National Government still continues its output of post offices and similar buildings, but they fall into this last class, and when those at present authorized are completed there will doubtless be at least a partial cessation of that work.
In domestic work there has been a certain amount of progress, but even that has not reached normal, nor has it shown any developments of an unusual character, except possibly in the direction of simplification and the elimination of elaborate decoration.
As to what may be expected in the future for the architectural progress of this country, conditions are bound to arise which will affect it very materially, and it is an interesting problem to consider in an anticipatory way what they will probably be. Much interest and much encouragement may be drawn from the present situation and that of the problematical future.
Up to the time that the United States entered into this world-wide conflict, the practice of architecture had for years pursued a placid course, the only ripples on its surface being caused by some of the younger members of the profession having heard the call to arms and having gone abroad to take their places in the firing line with those nations who are now our Allies. Those remaining were confronted with problems not so much of architectural design
as of the more material, economic features of architectural practice.
This has strongly developed the thought already present in the minds of some of the prominent architects that in addition to making designs and constructing buildings the architect of the future must include in his equipment the ability to act as the business adviser to his client in such matters, somewhat as the lawyer does. When this is given serious consideration it will be recognized to enlarge greatly the professional field and it will place greatly enhanced responsibilities on the shoulders of the profession. In doing this the architect must add to his already extensive fund of knowledge that of familiarity with real estate values, a closer and more intimate acquaintance with cost of work, of the investment returns that could be hoped for by different courses of procedure, and must exercise great judgment in the selection of the particular one it would be best to recommend. Architects as a class have hitherto given far too little attention to this phase of their profession, and the failure to do so is in some measure responsible for the comparatively subordinate position in which they often find themselves. There can be no better opportunity for making a start toward overcoming this than the present. Many of the profession are already “doing their bit,” in the preparatory camps or in the trenches, and should the war continue for any length of time the ranks of the profession will be still further depleted.
These men, many of them yet young, will in a year have gone through experiences that ordinarily would not be crowded into a lifetime. Equipped as they are by education, and possessing keen powers of observation, they will have unparalleled opportunities to see things, to witness great events and to take part in situations of particular importance. All these elements will have a strong influence in molding their future characters. There is no possibility of doubt that every one of them, young or old, by the time of his return to this country and the resumption of his professional work, will have acquired a mental poise, a fund of knowledge, and an ability to read men and meet them on their own ground that will be far in advance of his actual years, and that will have a lasting effect on his subsequent professional career.
It is to be hoped that the hazards of war will not affect the future of these men as seriously as they have those in England and France, and that we shall be able to hail their return to their usual vocations to take their part with renewed vigor in a progress which in the next decade will advance architectural work to a height never before witnessed. For it cannot be doubted that the re-entry into professional work of a body of men having such a fund of ex
This is not a plea for the use of expensive materials, but for such a study of proportions as will make the simplest building a source of pleasure instead of abhorrence, as many of them are at present. This can be secured by careful study and the knowledge of how to use materials without adding a dollar to the cost, and in some cases actually decreasing their cost.
Turning from industrial work to other branches, we find very few monumental buildings either under way or contemplated. Few if any of the States have proposed any new buildings, but are confining their efforts to such as had been previously authorized and put under way. Nor will there probably be a great amount of such work for some years to come. The National Government still continues its output of post offices and similar buildings, but they fall into this last class, and when those at present authorized are completed there will doubtless be at least a partial cessation of that work.
In domestic work there has been a certain amount of progress, but even that has not reached normal, nor has it shown any developments of an unusual character, except possibly in the direction of simplification and the elimination of elaborate decoration.
As to what may be expected in the future for the architectural progress of this country, conditions are bound to arise which will affect it very materially, and it is an interesting problem to consider in an anticipatory way what they will probably be. Much interest and much encouragement may be drawn from the present situation and that of the problematical future.
Up to the time that the United States entered into this world-wide conflict, the practice of architecture had for years pursued a placid course, the only ripples on its surface being caused by some of the younger members of the profession having heard the call to arms and having gone abroad to take their places in the firing line with those nations who are now our Allies. Those remaining were confronted with problems not so much of architectural design
as of the more material, economic features of architectural practice.
This has strongly developed the thought already present in the minds of some of the prominent architects that in addition to making designs and constructing buildings the architect of the future must include in his equipment the ability to act as the business adviser to his client in such matters, somewhat as the lawyer does. When this is given serious consideration it will be recognized to enlarge greatly the professional field and it will place greatly enhanced responsibilities on the shoulders of the profession. In doing this the architect must add to his already extensive fund of knowledge that of familiarity with real estate values, a closer and more intimate acquaintance with cost of work, of the investment returns that could be hoped for by different courses of procedure, and must exercise great judgment in the selection of the particular one it would be best to recommend. Architects as a class have hitherto given far too little attention to this phase of their profession, and the failure to do so is in some measure responsible for the comparatively subordinate position in which they often find themselves. There can be no better opportunity for making a start toward overcoming this than the present. Many of the profession are already “doing their bit,” in the preparatory camps or in the trenches, and should the war continue for any length of time the ranks of the profession will be still further depleted.
These men, many of them yet young, will in a year have gone through experiences that ordinarily would not be crowded into a lifetime. Equipped as they are by education, and possessing keen powers of observation, they will have unparalleled opportunities to see things, to witness great events and to take part in situations of particular importance. All these elements will have a strong influence in molding their future characters. There is no possibility of doubt that every one of them, young or old, by the time of his return to this country and the resumption of his professional work, will have acquired a mental poise, a fund of knowledge, and an ability to read men and meet them on their own ground that will be far in advance of his actual years, and that will have a lasting effect on his subsequent professional career.
It is to be hoped that the hazards of war will not affect the future of these men as seriously as they have those in England and France, and that we shall be able to hail their return to their usual vocations to take their part with renewed vigor in a progress which in the next decade will advance architectural work to a height never before witnessed. For it cannot be doubted that the re-entry into professional work of a body of men having such a fund of ex