The Masterton Borough Council Competition

Progress, Volume X, Issue 3, 1 November 1914, Page 92

The Masterton Borough Council Competition

The Masterton Borough Council have compiled a set of “Conditions” for a competition for new Municipal Buildings. The conditions stipulate for buildings of brick or ferro-concrete, which must contain a Town Hall to seat 1,000 people, on ground floor, together with stage for concerts or public meetings, supper room and kitchen, ladies and gentlemens cloak rooms; a Council Chamber; a public office for 6 clerks, five other offices; a gas showroom; a public library and a reference library; 6 other rooms (for Mayor, Engineer, and other officers); caretaker’s accommodation, and lavatories, etc., all for the sum of £7,500. A first prize, of £SO is offered, a second prize of £3O, and a third prize of £2O. The Council does not bind itself to accept any of the designs sent in, but should it do so the architect must supply a complete set of working drawings, specifications, etc., for which effort he will receive 2£% commission (including the prize money). The conditions suggest that the Council is desirous of getting the drawings from the prizewinner and supervising the erection themselves thereby saving some commission, for it is stated in the conditions that “should the successful competitor be appointed to supervise the erection of the buildings the first prize money shall not be paid to him, but it will be included in the commission paid to him in terms to be agreed upon. No professional Assessor is to be called in to assist the Borough Council in deciding on the merits of the designs submitted, as it is clearly stated that “the members of the Masterton Borough Council will be the adjudicators of the plans.” Competitors have also to send in a tender with their designs which must be within 10 % of the estimate of the building. Surely this is an extraordinary request to make! Is a competitor to prepare working drawings for tender purposes and get tenders for the same on the off chance of being awarded a £SO prize adjudicated upon by laymen? When will Local Bodies learn that their interests can be best served by getting the assistance of a professional architect of standing to draw up their conditions in a businesslike and satisfactory manner? Competitions drawn up by laymen however wellmeant cannot possibly cover the ground adequately. Architects of standing will not compete in a competition the conditions of which are so loosely drawn up, and if this be the case how are the Council going to get the best possible return for the public money they are spending?