Masonry Magazine June 1971 Page. 25
Architect Paul Quigg
(Continued from page 5) beautifully designed curves and arches with exterior illumination.
Adjacent, on a lower elevation, is the Commonwealth Building covering an entire block and rising 14 floors above ground to an average height of 142 ft. Its 608,000 dark brown Taylor bricks give it the appearance of a sumptuous gingerbread cake. It has 718 fixed-in-place aluminum frame windows, which Architect Quigg kept small (4 x 5 ft.) for economy in heating and air conditioning, and to reduce winter drafts and summer heat and glare to assure a comfortable environment for the employees. For window cleaning, Quigg designed slots for scaffold cables into each of the projections capping the building.
The Commonwealth Building's vertical design was influenced by different elevations on each side of the block it occupies and by the dominant elevation of its elegant neighbor, the Architect Building. Quigg chose brick for its construction speed, economy, and flexibility but points out that it was also because of the quality image that masonry would present in its competition with the Architect Building.
The vast quantity of brick needed on such short notice was available without delay when another architect ran into a project delay on the Charles Center in Baltimore, Md.
The Commonwealth Building is linked to its neighbors with a pedestrian tunnel to the Architect Building and a bridge for pedestrians and cars across Fort Myer Drive to the Berkley Building. Another tunnel for pedestrians will link the Commonwealth Building to the Ames Center when it is built across Wilson Boulevard. This is part of the Arlington master plan to provide traffic-free pedestrian movement throughout the multiple block urban development.
What has been the reaction of fellow architects and others to his "bold statement" on the banks of the Potomac? Architect Quigg puts forth an amused smile when asked this question. Without hesitation, he said, "I haven't met a soul who is neutral about it. People either think it's great, and this includes many architects, or they say, "Why did you do that?" The building's owners, Pomponio Brothers Realty & Construction Co., Inc., who have interests in precast, consider the design controversial but are not inclined to elaborate or release details about this job or others.
If he had the Commonwealth Building to do over again, what would he do? "About the same," replies Architect Quigg. Thinking about it, he concludes, "I would make one design change though. The longer I look at the windows, the less I like their proportion to the vertical lines of the building. If I could start over, I would extend their length slightly toward the floor to establish better exterior lines and to give a greater interior feeling of openess for the employees."
Now as he looks at the maturing Commonwealth Building, which some three years ago meant many long work days, and some sleepless nights, Architect Quigg muses, "I'm very proud of it." And he has a right to be, for it is an outstanding contribution to the growth of Arlington.
DESA & Root Negotiate
Management Contract
The Power Products Division of DESA Industries, Inc., Park Forest, III., has entered into a management contract with Root Manufacturing Co., Baxter Springs, Kans.
DESA Industries, a growth-oriented corporation with sales of $30 million, is a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden and construction equipment products. Its Power Products Division manufactures and markets the Remington brand of chain saws and construction products.
The management agreement with Root is a step in DESA's program of broadening its activities in the lawn and garden market. Current plans call for a full production schedule of Root riding mowers, gear and chain tillers, high wheel mowers, brush saws, and snow blowers. Future plans call for the introduction of new product lines and new merchandising programs, the company said.
Columbus Association Installs Smoot
Sherman R. Smoot (center) was officially installed as president of the Masonry Contractors of Columbus, Ohio at the group's recent annual dinner dance in the new Marriott Inn. Others elected (pictured starting from the left) were: Bob Lindsay, secretary; John Goltz, vice president; Stuart Gordon, attorney with the firm Porter, Stanley, Treiffinger & Platt, and Russell Sepich, treasurer.
"It is more than coincidence that virtually all of mankind's scientific and technological progress came in the 200 years when free enterprise was the prevailing system throughout the Western world. It is more than coincidence that most of that progress was achieved in the nation regarded as the leading exponent of free enterprise: The United States of America." Thomas R. Shepard, Jr., publisher, Look Magazine.
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