Ohio State University - Makio Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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lf the idea of informality had been firmly adhered to and if all new build- ings had been kept small, the buildings could have been grouped around several additional informal lawns in such a way as to back toward the rears of previous buildings while facing on the new lawns. There might have been one such lawn north of Hayes Hall, preserving much of the woods as a landscape feature, and another north of the Power Plant, with the new Agricultural Department buildings on the west and Engineering buildings on the north. east and south. Abandon Informal Arrangement lint such an informal arrangement can no longer be adhered to for two reasons. First, there is a tendency to erect very much larger buildings than formerly, which are necessarily stiff and symmetrical in shape. Such great factory-like buildings are forced by the very large increase of accommodations which must be provided in a convenient and orderly way and by the recognized need of the utmost economy consistent with durability and a passably good appearance. These huge buildings are all out of scale with the lawns and trees of the ina formal landscape. The second reason is that there has been a pronounced change of archi- tectural style and motive. lt is a pity that architectural style is so much a mat- ter of fashion, but such is obviously the case. .Xrchitectural styles which would harmonize with naturalistic landscape have been abandoned and most of the buildings doubtless will hereafter be severely formal and symmetrical in design. Brown Hall, Chemistry Hall and others built of late years, except Oxley llall, are not only formal and sym- metrical, but are obtrusively smooth and citified in appearance, and therefore contrast too violently with the naturalistic landscape. lf large formal buildings are to be eventually numerous and close together, as seems inevitable. the informal landscape idea would be overpowered by formal architecture, and at the same time if such large buildings should be informally distributed the opportunity for effective grouping' would have been lost. Consequently, as a matter of good taste, it has become a necessity to group future buildings with due regard to formality and symmetry. Will Preserve Central Lawn lt is not proposed materially to interfere with the loop of existing buildings surrounding the fine central lawn. That would entail far too great a sacrifice and can only be thought of as a bare possibility at some time in the future when some of the present small, cheap buildings may he replaced by larger and more stately fireproof buildings, as we see happening in our large cities. lt is not probable that any wholly satisfactory formal plan can be grafted on to the present layout. but the tract of vacant land north of the present build- I-l

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ings, and the tract south of them can each be laid out formally and in such a way that they will be related. The existence of High Street, one of the most important streets of Co- lumbus, along the whole east front of the Campus and the fact that eight of the twelve working buildings facing upon the great central lawn, are situated perpendicular to or parallel with High Street, clearly indicates that all other buildings to be erected, should be similarly located. During the last three years the Horse Barn, the judging Pavilion, the Cow Barn, the Veterinary Hospital, the Mechanical Engineering Shop, the Wfomenis Dormitory and the Student's Building have been placed in this way, The accompanying diagram, on which existing buildings are shown, heavily cross hatched and suggested buildings lightly cross hatched, illustrates by dot and dash lines, proposed locations of architectural axis lines for the principal void spaces. and by dotted lines proposed locations for building limit lines. The particular buildings proposed, are more purely suggestive. The actual buildings would doubtless all be different in size and shape, while conforming in the main to the axis and front lines indicated. The formal arrangement of future buildings now being followed may be described as follows: First, a row of working buildings fronting on High Street and extending the whole length of the campus. The building front line is planned to be IIo feet from High Street. This assumes the widening of this important street by ten feet on the university side whether or not it is ever widened on the oppo- site side. These building sites should be used for working buildings with which the outside public is concerned Kas audience upon occasionsj and for graduate schools. The northerly part of this row of sites cannot be occupied until the Athletic Field has been removed, at some distant date, to the open ground west of the old North and South Dormitories, a site which, although considerable grading would be required, is much to be preferred to the present one, because it will admit of the great expansion which will become necessary when the number of students has greatly increased. New Dormitory System Second, an axis line is assumed parallel with High Street and midway between Hayes Hall and the Gymnasium and extending from Woodrtiff Avenue to Eleventh Avenue. There would be building front lines equi-distant from this axis, one passing along the east end of Hayes Hall, and the other intersecting the northwest corner of the Gymnasium. This latter frontage line will be far enough from the proposed building sites facing High Street, to allow for two series of buildings, one north of the Gymnasium and the other south of Page Hall, both backing toward the High Street row and facing west. VVest of this axis there would be two series of buildings facing east, one north of Mines and Ceramics Hall, and the other extending from the valley southward to Ilth 16