Frederick Law Olmsted

SUBJECT FILE

School Buildings & Grounds

Columbia University
1893VII PR
File
Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot.
Rec'd Jun 24 1893

Columbia College
in the City of New York.

Report of Professor William R. Ware and
Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted on the
Occupation of the New Site.

New York, May 26, 1893.
President Low,
Dear Sir:
    In accordance with the resolutions of the Committee
on Buildings and Grounds, and with the verbal instructions
received from them, we have examined the seven schemes for
the occupation of the Bloomingdale site, prepared by Mr.
Hunt, Mr. Haight and Mr. McKim, with a view to submitting
a definite proposition for the consideration of the Committee,
which should be based, not only upon the suggestions contained
in these sketches, but upon any other suggestions that
might present themselves, from any quarter. What we were
asked to do was, in substance, to combine the large accommodation
and open external courts of Mr. Hunt's scheme, 
and the practical convenience and ample provision for lecture-rooms 
shown in Mr. Haight's, with the symmetry and monumental 
disposition of Mr. McKim's, and at the same time to 
meet the somewhat exacting requirements of the different departments, 
which the discussion of the subject has meanwhile
brought to our notice. The consideration of these special
requirements and of the various suggestions that have been
offered in regard to them, have obliged us to go more into
particulars of arrangement and planning than the consulting
architects had any occasion to do. The questions
could be solved only by experiment, that is to say, by
drawing out in detail every solution that presented itself.2
This the permission to employ clerical and other assistance
has enabled us to do. Without it we should not have been
able to present a scheme that commanded even our own
confidence.
The accompanying plan is the result of these studies.
In this drawing the buildings now on the ground are
drawn with red ink, the one which it is proposed to remove at
once being shown in outline only, those which are to be
altered over for immediate use being tinted. The new buildings
are drawn with black ink. Those of them which, according
to the memorandum prepared by the several heads of
departments, will probably be needed to supply the wants of
the next fifteen years are drawn in detail. Of these those
which will have to be erected at once are tinted. The rest of
the future buildings are shown only in outline. A glance at
the drawing will suffice to show that it is proposed that the
buildings to be erected by the present generation shall
occupy the high ground at the southern end, leaving the
lower portion at the northern end for the needs of the next
generation. This would occupy the most conspicuous part
of the site, at once, with the most important buildings.
Meanwhile the lower area, embracing seven or eight acres,
might be used as a field for athletic sports, or put to any
other use which the Trustees may approve.
   A part of this might be occupied by houses for the
Professors, either to be erected by the College, and leased to
them, or to be erected by other persons at their own expense,
paying the College the ground-rent. They might be so
placed that they could ultimately be incorporated into future
College buildings, and the terms of the lease might be such
as to provide for their becoming College property after a
given period.
   The southern portion, containing about ten acres, is
nearly level, lying between 145 and 150 feet above tide
water, and 15 or 20 feet above the adjacent portion of the
lower field. It is from 10 to 20 feet above the surrounding
streets. This difference of level has led Mr. Hunt and Mr.


3
Haight to place the entrances to the grounds on the sides of
the lot, half-way toward the northern end, where the falling
off of the land brings the surface more nearly to the level
of the streets, especially on the west. Mr. Hunt puts his
principal gateway on the western side, upon the Boulevard,
Mr. Haight on Amsterdam Avenue, to the east. The former
has the disadvantage of facing the northwest winds, and of
being turned away from the city, and from the most obvious
lines of approach. The latter has the disadvantage of coming
at the middle of rather a steep slope. Entering the grounds
half-way down a hill would be somewhat awkward. Both
would face upon a public thoroughfare, occupied by horse-
car tracks, and there is a probability that the Boulevard will
be occupied also by an elevated or sunken railroad.
   The scheme of Messrs. McKin, Mead & White places
the main entrance upon 116th Street, facing the south. This
seems on the whole to be the best arrangement. The
street, although not as wide as the Boulevard, is one
of the wide streets, and it has the advantage of being
nearly level. It is also a very short street, leading nowhere,
so that it is not likely to be occupied by tracks. It will
probably always have a character of dignity and privacy, and
will form a suitable approach to the college. It is true that
the grounds are at this point about fifteen feet above the
street, but this difference of level can easily be got over, as is
shown in the plan, by the use of sloping driveways for carriages,
and by steps for pedestrians. The plan shows a broad 
flight of steps in the middle, for processions, and smaller
flights at each end. At the top is a monumental gateway of
five arches, forming a sort of Propylaea to this Acropolis. As
this would set well back from the street, there would be a
distance of about 150 feet to the opposite side of 116th
Street. This amplitude of space would add essentially to the
effectiveness of a feature which is in itself one of great
dignity. It could be adorned with sculpture and fountains,
and there is space for shrubs and flowering plants.
   This places the entrance on what would seem to be the
natural axis of the lot, opens the grounds towards the southern
winds and sun, and breaks up a façade of undesirable4
length into three portions of two or three hundred feet each.
The wings on either side would stand upon retaining walls
from ten to twenty feet high, which would raise the windows
well above the street.
     Within the gateway is a Quadrangle, measuring about
325 feet by 250, or nearly half as large as Gramercy Park.
It is a little smaller than the open space between the Hudson
River Railroad Station and Madison Avenue, between 43d
Street and 44th Street, which is about 320 feet by 300, from
house to house. This, though much smaller than some of
the quadrangles shown in the schemes of the consulting
architects, is much larger than most of those at Oxford or
Cambridge. It is about the size of those of Christ Church
and of Trinity. Both Mr. Hunt and Mr. Haight have quadrangles
of about this size in this place, open toward the south,
but without public access from the street.
     It would be better if this quadrangle ran the other way,
and measured 325 feet from north to south, with the entrance
upon the short side. But if lengthened at all it would have
to be made long enough to show three pavilions on each side
instead of two, which would add 135 feet, making 385 instead
of 250, and pushing the buildings at the northern
end well off the edge of the plateau. To narrow it at the
same time would make these pavilions undesirably long and
would too much cramp the buildings at the northern end. The
court which Mr. McKim puts in this place is very much
larger. But this seems as large an unoccupied space as
it is reasonable to take where land is so valuable. It would not
do to make it much smaller, however, in view of the difficulty of
obtaining additional land, which may make it necessary at
some future day to put additional stories upon the buildings
by which it is surrounded. The consulting architects are
doubtless right in saying that five stories are as many as is
desirable, but it may become necessary in the future to carry
the buildings up to six or eight stories. Two hundred and
fifty feet is the least dimension which should be given to a
court so surrounded. The court of the old Louvre, which is
surrounded by buildings eighty-five feet high, is 390 feet

5

across. The same is to be said of the Place Napoleon III. in
the new Louvre, which is open on the western side and the
centre of which is occupied by a garden with trees. The old
"College Yard" at Harvard College, where the buildings are
four stories high and about fifty feet to the eaves, measures
about 200 feet across.
     On the right of the gateway are the Offices of Administration.
The rest of the building, which probably had better 
not be more than two or three stories high, so as not to cut 
off the sun and southern breeze from the Quadrangle, is not 
assigned to any particular purpose, and could be used very 
conveniently for dormitories. It forms the southern side of
the Quadrangle.
     In the centre of the northern side of the Quadrangle,
opposite the gateway, is a covered porch or driveway, giving
access to a large Entrance Hall or Vestibule, which in turn
gives access on the right to the Library, with a Reading
Room beneath it, on the left to the Chapel, with a Refectory
under it; and in the centre, opposite the doorway, to the
Academic Theatre. Each of these five halls would require a
vestibule of considerable dimensions. Accordingly space is
economized and convenience consulted in giving them a
vestibule in common, which can properly be made so much
larger than either of the separate entrance halls would be,
that a valuable architectural effect may thus be secured with
a marked economy of space. A somewhat similar arrangement
is to be found in Mr. McKim's scheme.
      The east and west sides of the Quadrangle are formed
by buildings which it is proposed to make only three stories
high, containing corridors, which, connecting with corridors
behind the Library and Chapel on the north, and with those
of the Administration Building on the south, give direct
access, at three different levels, from every part of the college
to every other part, upon interior lines. These corridors have
class-rooms on the side toward the Quadrangle, and on the
outside, toward the Avenue and the Boulevard, are toilet-rooms, 
stairways and windows. They are everywhere well
lighted and ventilated.6
     In some of the schemes submitted by the consulting
architects communication between the different buildings is
maintained, in part, by open arcades. If these were confined
to the lower story they would be inadequate to the purpose,
though forming a picturesque feature in the grounds. If
they were repeated in the stories above they would be an
expensive feature and a less attractive one. In neither case
do they seem suited, in this climate, to a building to be
used chiefly in the winter. In most weathers they are not
needed, at least on the ground floor, as it is easier and
pleasanter to cross the Quadrangle than to go round. In
cold weather they would be unsuitable.
    To the north of this large Quadrangle are two small
quadrangles, or courts, enclosed on all sides, each about
100 feet square. The one behind the Library is partly occupied
by book-stacks. The one behind the Chapel is occupied,
underground, by the engine and boiler rooms, which are thus
entirely outside the buildings. The chimney stack rises in
the northwest corner of this court and is not anywhere conspicuously
visible.
     This is about the northern limit of the high plateau
which forms the southern portion of the site. At this point
the land suddenly falls off twelve or fifteen feet. These courts
are accordingly at a lower level than the Quadrangle, being
in fact at about the level of the adjacent streets. The Library
and other buildings are therefore one story higher at the back
than at the front. This is advantageous for the book-stacks 
behind the Library, since it gives them about as many stories
below the library floor as above it, which thus occupies a 
central position among them.
     These two courts, though not large enough to be handsome,
are ample for light and air. No class-rooms or studies
open upon them.
    The line of building to the north of these courts forms
the extreme northerly portion of the structures which it is 
proposed to erect during the next thirty years. It looks out 
to the north over the lower field, and is shown as occupied
partly by an extension of the Library, partly by kitchens, and

7
partly by a Gymnasium, which would thus stand immediately
next to the Athletic grounds, should the field be devoted to
this purpose.
     The remainder of the space is occupied, in accordance
with the recommendation of the consulting architects, by
open courts, surrounded by buildings on only three sides.
The arrangement of these courts is similar to that shown both
by Mr. Hunt and by Mr. McKim, but they are more numerous,
there being four courts on each side of the Quadrangle.
They open toward the Avenue and toward the Boulevard,
thus profiting by the light and air of these wide thoroughfares.
The same is to be said of those shown in Mr. Hunt's
scheme. Mr. McKim's, on the other hand, have the open side
toward the Quadrangle, which gives perhaps a little more
seclusion, and a more monumental exterior, but has the disadvantage
that it not only greatly increases the length of
the corridor of communication, placing it upon exterior
lines, but that it puts a considerable number of rooms
directly upon the street, which seems undesirable.
     The north and south sides of these eight open courts
are formed by ten masses of buildings, running east and
west, five on each side of the Quadrangle; they are shown as
four stories high, between 40 and 50 feet wide, and 250 feet
long. They are intersected by the buildings containing the
corridors of communication, which run north and south. In
the ends of these pavilions are placed the museums, laboratories,
drawing rooms and large lecture rooms, which thus
neither interrupt communication, as in the present School
of Arts, nor are used as thoroughfares, as in the present School 
of Mines. This is almost exactly the arrangement shown in
Mr. Haight's scheme. The rest of the floor space is occupied
with class-rooms, studies and corridors. But these corridors
are used only by the men who occupy the pavilions in which
they occur. They are accordingly quiet, and need not be
very wide. Each pavilion has a special staircase for the
convenience of its occupants.
     The five western pavilions, upon the Boulevard, it is proposed
to devote to the School of Mines, including the Departments8

 of Chemistry, Mining, Metallurgy and Mineralogy, and 
Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Those on Amsterdam
Avenue are given to the School of Arts, the Law School,
the School of Political Science and the Departments of Mathematics,
Physics, Biology, Geology, Astronomy and Architecture.
Law and Architecture are placed at the northern
end, nearest the Library, so that the Law Library and the
Avery Library may be readily accessible to those most frequently
using them, and may at the same time be under the
immediate control of the Librarian. As the floor of the
Library is set half a story higher than those of the other
buildings, it will be possible to pass directly from the Library
to the book-stacks and to the adjacent pavilions, not crossing
the corridors at a level, but passing above or below them.
In the southernmost pavilion on this side, at the corner of
Amsterdam Avenue and 116th Street, is placed the President's
House, in convenient proximity to the Offices of
Administration. This house would have windows toward the
northeast, southeast and southwest, and an independent
entrance from Amsterdam Avenue. The porch and front
door have been placed upon the northeast side, in the open
court, the whole of which can be given up for the President's
private grounds. They would lie ten or twelve feet
above the street.

     As these courts and quadrangles are entirely cut off
one from another, they are entirely independent of each
other in respect to levels, and the ground in each may be made
just as high or as low as may prove convenient. This reduces
the necessary expenses of grading to a minimum. The area
proposed to be included in the large Quadrangle is now nearly
level, at a height of about 148 feet above the river. The
grade of the lower floors might accordingly be set at about
150. The present level of the ground to be occupied by the
open courts varies from 136 to 146; this is likely to be somewhat
changed by the accumulations of earth and stone taken
out of the cellars, though some of this will be needed to fill
in the cellars of the present buildings. Half a dozen of the
pavilions would, however, doubtless have a story, below the
basement, entirely out of ground, thus affording a large


9

amount of accommodation of which no account has been
taken.

     The basement stories should probably be about fifteen feet
high, the three stories above being eighteen, fifteen and twelve
feet respectively. The upper stories could obtain whatever
additional height they needed from the roof. A story showing
only eight feet of wall from floor to eaves, like the present
Geological Museum, would probably suffice, if it were
lighted by dormers or by skylights. The height of the walls
would accordingly be between fifty and sixty feet.

     It is only on this southern front that a line of buildings
is shown running along the side of a street, and here it is well
above the sidewalk, being raised, as has been said, upon a retaining
wall from ten to twenty feet high. Only the ends of 
pavilions touch the Boulevard and the Avenue, which are
bordered by the large open courts, measuring about 90 feet 
by 188. These may be kept in turf or planted with shrubs,
or even with trees. These courts would much enhance the
value of the building lots on the opposite sides of these avenues,
and would greatly contribute to the picturesque and half
suburban aspect of this part of the town. There is a somewhat
similar court behind the Windsor Hotel, open on the
end, towards Madison Avenue. But this is only about 75
feet wide and it is nearly 300 feet long.

     The memoranda prepared by the heads of departments
last year, at the instance of the Committee on Buildings
and Grounds, showed that the accommodation probably
necessary in the near future would require twelve pavilions
each five stories high. In the scheme herewith presented
the connecting corridors are equivalent to three or four
pavilions, so that all the accommodation that has been
asked for can be had in ten pavilions four stories high, and
the corridors need not be more than three stories high. Even
this gives a considerable amount of floor space as yet unassigned,
including about half the building that occupies the
north side of 116th Street. This, as has already been said,
might be occupied by apartments for students and college
officers. But it might be desirable, as Mr. Hunt has suggested,
not to erect this portion of the building until it is absolutely10

required, thus leaving the Quadrangle open to the
south for an indefinite period. If, as Mr. Haight proposes,
the Offices of Administration are placed, not near the entrance,
but in a more central position, under the Library, this would
occasion no inconvenience.

    To facilitate passage across the grounds a footway is
shown on the axis of 117th Street, passing through the middle
of the large Quadrangle. This could be closed by gates at
night. On the axis of 118th Street are both a footway and a
driveway. These pass under the book-stack and the Academic
Theatre, over the boiler and machinery rooms and
alongside the kitchen. Supplies of all kinds can thus be
introduced just where they are wanted. Gates and lodges
for porters are placed at each end, so that the driveway cannot
be used as a public street.

     This driveway would conveniently serve the small enclosed
courts, being, as has been said, of the same height above
the river. The two pavilions which enclose it are nearer
together than those further south, and are connected in the
lower story by the Porter's Lodge and the gateway. They
might be raised higher than the other pavilions, and as, owing
to the slope of the ground, they go a story lower, the two,
together with the theatre behind them, would make a picturesque
object in the vista of 118th Street. This might compensate, 
in part, for the loss of the effect obtained at this
spot by Mr. Hunt and by Mr. Haight, who have placed here
their principal entrances.

   It is proposed to place the Astronomical Observatory,
as appears on the plan, in an isolated position to the north
of the Library. This building might be made large enough
to contain the work rooms of this Department. In the
scheme herewith presented, however, these are assigned a
place in the basement of the nearest pavilion.

    The Academic Theatre is placed, as has been said, in a
central position upon the axis of the Quadrangle, and at its
extreme northern end. Though largely intended to be used
by the public, more so, indeed, than any other portion of the 


11

buildings, it seems more suitably located here than next to
the Avenue, or to the Boulevard, where Mr. Haight and 
Mr. Hunt have placed it. On the few occasions on which
the public visit the grounds, it is desirable that they should
see as much of the College as possible. Moreover, it is more
seemly and more convenient for carriages to wait in the 
Quadrangle than in the open street.

    There is room here for an Auditorium of any reasonable
size. If made to seat 1,800 or 2,000 persons, more or
less, it could also be made serviceable for a much smaller
number, the galleries being closed or draped, as is done at
the Madison Square Garden. It would thus be serviceable
upon any occasion when a larger lecture-room than usual
was needed for College purposes.

     The maximum occupation of the ground, with a view of
securing the greatest possible amount of accommodation,
would give 8,000 running feet of buildings, 45 or 50 feet
wide, surrounding twelve enclosed courts, each about 100
feet wide and 300 feet long, as is shown in the accompanying
diagram. Such a scheme, however, would be intolerable,
being deficient in light and air and without architectural
character. Mr. Hunt's scheme gives 5,935 running feet of
such buildings, or 66 per cent. of the maximum. Mr.
McKim's, 5,896, or 65 per cent. Mr. Haight's, 5,104 feet, or
62 per cent. The scheme herewith submitted, in which it
has been attempted to combine as far as possible the desirable
features presented by all the consulting architects,
gives 6,547 running feet of building, or more than 80 per
cent. This comes as near, perhaps, to a maximum occupation
of the ground as is reasonably to be expected.

     A series of diagrams accompanies the plan, showing a
tentative assignment of space to the different Departments.
This exactly meets their requirements, as stated a year ago.
Whatever assignment might actually be made would probably,
in the nature of the case, be largely temporary, and it
is accordingly desirable that in the construction of these buildings,
as in that of modern office buildings, the floors should
be supported entirely independently of the partitions, so12

that the partitions may not only be changed in position as
convenience may require, but may be made as small and
light as a due regard to their fire-proof quality will permit.
This uncertainty as to size and destination of the rooms
would seem to imply a somewhat uniform system of fenestration,
such as is indicated in the plan.

    It will be seen that the pavilions run east and west instead
of north and south, though in point of fact, the cardinal points
come more nearly opposite to the corners of the buildings
than to the sides. It is better in general to have buildings
lie north and south, so that every part may receive the sun
at some part of the day; but there are so many purposes to
which these pavilions are to be put which require a steady
north light, that the arrangement shown in this scheme would
probably not prove inconvenient.

    The comparatively large number of low buildings which
this scheme presents has a practical advantage which the
Committee will not overlook. The cost of each building is
thereby greatly reduced, though the accommodation furnished
might probably be attained at less expense by half
the number of buildings with twice the number of stories.
If the Trustees were to spend their own money this alternative
would probably commend itself. As, however, they are
relying upon the benefactions of their friends, they may
probably find it easier to find twenty men to give what one
of these buildings would cost, than to find ten with twice the
sum at their disposal.

    By building the corridors one story less in height than
the pavilions which they connect, the pavilions would
have very much the aspect and character of isolated structures.
This would make it practicable to distinguish each by
the name of its donor, and would make it easier and more
reasonable to give it some individuality of treatment.

     Another advantage not to be disregarded is that the
entire scheme will be more promptly executed by erecting
many low buildings than by building a smaller number of
high ones, and the advantages which it offers more promptly
realized within a reasonable period. To wait an indefinite


13

time before the whole area, or at least that part of it now
under consideration, is brought into use would be to arrange
for an indefinite period of confusion. The whole should be
brought into use and enjoyment as soon as possible. Low
buildings are better both for appearance and for convenience,
and the College might as well have the benefit of them as
long as it can.

     Such a complete and harmonious treatment once secured,
there would probably be no occasion to disturb it for a
hundred years. Whatever additional space new needs may
require may probably best be obtained by occupying the open 
ground to the north rather than by adding to the height of
buildings already erected; moreover, whenever six or seven
story buildings are needed they will probably be first placed
in that part of the ground where the falling off of the land
naturally suggests them.

    What special architectural style to adopt in these buildings
is a question the answer to which is, in practice,
likely to be controlled by considerations of expense. It must
also be influenced by the general policy to be adopted by the
Trustees in their erection. A severe and classical style would
require a greater uniformity of treatment than considerations
of policy may permit. A freer style, whether inclining toward
ancient or mediaeval models, or following in the footsteps
of the early Renaissance, which combines the qualities
of both, would probably prove more convenient in a structure
the different parts of which were to be contributed by
different benefactors. Each of them would probably prefer
to employ his own architect and to give some play to his own
architectural predilections. The animation and variety which
would result would give picturesqueness to the composition,
and would effectually prevent the stiffness and monotony
which often attaches to large and complicated buildings
erected from a uniform design or controlled by a single mind.
It would be easy to keep this freedom within limits.

   In the long run it will probably be impossible to prevent
such variations. The next generation will at any rate
naturally prefer their own notions and will not be controlled.14

by anything we can say. Unless, then, there is a probability
that the whole scheme will be executed at the same time and
nearly at the present time, it may be wise frankly to accept
this result and to secure for ourselves whatever advantages
this freedom and variety may promise.

   By way of experiment, and in order to gain more definite
conceptions on these points, a number of sketches have
been prepared and are herewith presented, showing alternatives
of treatment. They exhibit the different features of the
scheme more clearly than a mere plan can do, and illustrate
the great range of architectural character and sentiment
which varieties of architectural treatment and choice of style
make possible. They also to a certain extent show the effect
of varying the detail of the pavilions while preserving a
general uniformity among them in regard to mass and outline.

   The consulting architects agree in recommending Indiana
stone as the most suitable material, suggesting red brick
as an alternative, a material which would ensure a sober
and dignified character of building which is specially effective
in combination with foliage. This also is likely to be largely
a question of cost. It seems to us it should not be decided
hastily, or without fully considering the advantages of a brown
or even lighter colored brick and of terra cotta.

   Each of the ten pavilions would cost, at the rate of 35 cents
a cubic foot, about $195,000.00 The portions of corridor
which connect them would probably cost about $52,000.00
each.

   It appears that the buildings now upon the ground, if
occupied to their full extent, would give comfortable accommodation
for all departments of the college, in its present 
condition, except for the Library and the Law School.

   It is desirable, of course, to make the utmost use of these
buildings, and not to remove any of them till means is at
hand to supply its place. But this consideration ought not
to be allowed, it seems to us, to prevent the adoption of


15

what promised to be, in the long run, the most advantageous
solution of the main problem. The question of the Library is
the most difficult as it is the most important question at issue.
If the place here assigned to the Library is really the best
that can be found for it, as we think it is, it should be put
there, even though it makes it necessary to take down a part
of the principal eastern building, and to provide in its place a
new building for one or more of the other departments of
instruction. Since the Library includes the Avery Library,
as well as the Law Library, and it is as desirable that the
students of architecture should have convenient access to it,
as that the law students should have the Law Library close
at hand, we have suggested that the structure immediately
to be completed should comprise the Library, the Reading
Room beneath it, a portion of the book-stacks to the north,
the pavilion assigned to the use of the Law School and
the School of Political Science to the east, and the pavilion
assigned to the use of the Department of Architecture and
the Department of Astronomy to the northeast. These, with
the Astronomical Observatory, would probably suffice for
some time to come.

   One of the consulting architects speaks of the desirability
of arranging the building plan with some regard to the
preservation of the trees now standing on the property. Upon
this point it may be observed that many of these trees, being
of moderate size and vigorous habit, can be transplanted to
any points where they will stand in most satisfactory adjustment
to the most desirable arrangement of buildings. The
trees on and near the Mall of the Central Park were most
of them removed thirty years ago, from a point several
miles beyond the Harlem River, to their present positions.
In their original locality they had grown naturally, in a 
crowded way, and otherwise unfavorable to the purpose, and
they were moved in many cases under extremely adverse
circumstances. They were from four to six inches in diameter.
Their present condition will indicate with what success
the above suggestions could be carried out, even in application
to much larger trees, when growing under favorable16
circumstances close at hand. The trees that could not be
thus dealt with to advantage are mostly such as, because of
their age or infirmities, are not likely to be so long-lived
that the general building plan of the College should be affected
by regard for them.
   This district is little likely ever to be occupied for manufacturing
or commercial purposes. Nevertheless, there is
danger that buildings will be erected, on ground adjoining
the College, of the extremely lofty class now becoming
common for hotels and apartment houses, and, as such structures
would be gravely objectionable, the question should
have consideration whether some expedient cannot be devised
by which this danger can be lessened. If the ground opposite
the College property could be let on long building leases,
with restrictions against excessive height, the probability is
that it would be occupied by fine private dwellings. If no
such provision is practicable, perhaps some modification of
the building laws might be obtained, by which the desired
end could be reached.
   The principal portal and monumental face of the College
being in a recess from the street, at the south end of the
property, the suggestion may be considered, whether by
widening this street fifty feet on the other side for the same
distance, the effect of a fairly spacious esplanade, or plaza,
might not be obtained. Such an open space would add much
to the dignity of the situation.
Yours very respectfully,
William R. Ware
Frederick Law Olmsted