North Dakota State College of Science - Agawasie Yearbook (Wahpeton, ND)

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 he cj gawasie The New Capitol UK m v State Capitol, represented on the opposite page as it will look when completed, combines beauty, practicability and modernity of architecture. The west end, or legislative unit, will be comparatively low. and is designed to contain a memorial hall and the legislative chambers. T he office block or administrative part of the building to be located at the east end will be 234 feet high. The new Capitol will not only have beauty of appearance. but will combine a maximum of light, and a maximum of usable floor space. T here will be 130,000 square feet of floor space as compared with 65,000 square feet in the old Capitol. It is estimated that 80 per cent of its Hoor area is working space, as against 29 to 30 per cent in the dome style of architecture. The separate housing of the legislative and administrative units constitutes a unique feature of this building as compared with other state capitols. In the lower part of the structure will he the legislative rooms; in the eighteen story block the administrative unit. The fact that there is twice as much available space in the new Capitol provides well for the future. The most prominent artistic feature of the interior will be a memorial hall, 25 feet wide, 40 feet high and 270 feet long. Opening from this to the right, will be the offices of the Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State. To the left will be the chambers of the I louse and Senate, located on either side of the wall at the extreme west end. The building is to have a steel framework with all members fireproofed with concrete. Moors are of hollow tile arch with concrete fill and cimcnt finish; the windows of solid section aluminum, glazed with plate glass. Details of interior finishing, too numerous to mention here, will give-distinctive beauty to the memorial hall and the chambers and offices within the building. From the standpoint of convenience and economy oi time anil effort, numerous up-to-date mechanical devices

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 be cj€gdwcisie arc installed in various parts of' the building. Wc name here a texv which especially attracted the attention of President Riley as lie was looking at the plans during a recent visit to Bismarck. I le spoke of an ingenious voting device where-bv a member of either 1 louse by pressing a button on bis desk may register his vote as “Yes. ' “No. or “No Vote. ’ A fourth button provides tor a change of vote. Names of members are on electrical sign-boards in front of the chamber. These record each vote, record totals and automatically copy for record. In the (iovernor’s office are miniature signboards which immediately apprise him of the vote in both houses. In the (iovernor’s office is a phone system whereby the Governor, sitting in his office, may listen to debate in either I louse. There is also in his office provision for broadcasting, so that, without leaving his own desk, lie may speak to either or both Houses. Temperature control is automatic for the whole building: and so is moisture control. We have space to give here only a few details as to the new State Capitol. Convenience—beauty—practicality —are the watchwords of its construction. The Capitol will cost, when completed, approximately S2.000.000.00 a figure truly economical in consideration of the size, design and beauty of the structure. North Dakota has every reason to be proud of her new Capitol. To us at the State-School of Science it symbolizes the structural spirit which has always been the life of our school ami which promises a new and growing industrial life for our State.