Viewing page 483 of 488

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 886
[[/preprinted]]

[[preprinted left margin]]
MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO.
[[/preprinted left margin]]

For the aeronautic exhibits there was acquired the first of the autogiro type of airplane flown in America. An unusual feature of this gift from the Autogiro Company of American was that the airplane was delivered to the Museum by air, having been landed in the park area directly in front of the Arts and Industries Building in which it is now exhibited.

[[underlined]] Additions to the National Museum Building. [[/underlined]] Dr.Wetmore displayed the plans for these additions as prepared by the Allied Architects of Washington, D.C., under the supervision of Mr. Nathan Wyeth, and explained that the additions consist of two wings extending to the east and west of the present building, each approximately 228 feet in extension in the direction of the length of the building, and 332 feet deep.

The wings contain a basement story devoted to storage and laboratories, two exhibition floors, and a top story containing additional laboratories and offices. An attic for extra storage space will be provided over a portion of the top story.

The approximate area added to the present building by these additions consists of 84,000 square feet of storage space; 196,000 square feet of exhibition space; and 114,000 square feet of offices and laboratory space.

The additions as planned are computed to contain approximately twelve million cubic feet, which, at 50¢ per cubic foot would amount to Six million dollars. To determine the exact cubic contents and a more accurate price per cubic foot would require a more detailed study of the foundations, the structural problems involved, and the finish of the materials, in connection with the preparation of the working drawings.

In general, the plan had been developed to conform to the following principals;-

(a.) To obtain the maximum unobstructed gallery space, together with the maximum unbroken wall areas for the exhibited of the collections in the Museum.

(b) To provide ample and continuous circulations between the present buildings and the additions.