Salt Lake Telegram | 1928-12-16 | Page 30 | Higher Building Problem Faced

s. s HIGhER BUILDING PROBLEM fA FACED m Further Advance Skyward Skyward Skyward Sky Sky- ward Depends on Traffic Traffic Traffic fic Congestion n NEW YORK TORK Dec De-c. 1 WIth lS-WIth V ith the maximum economic height of ot an office office- building for the tho average ground sp space e up to approximately forty stories the further advance skyward awaits solution of th the tho same problem that exists in city streets streets- ts- ts traffic congestion This is the statement of ot William Wllliam F. F Lamb prominent New Nw York architect who has made a special cial study of ot the situation The Tho problems of actual construction construction construction tion have been solved he points out Since the tho development of the steel framework enveloped with terra cotta or other light strong facing materials the modern skyscraper is virtually ready to shoot upward to new dizzy heights But there is a point beyond which elevator service servIce service ice presents too many difficulties Either service is Inadequate to suit the hurrying passenger or too much valuable space space- is taken up by additional additional ad ad- elevator shafts Qualifying the conclusions re regarding regardIng regarding re- re garding maximum economic height Mr Lamb explains that there may be valid reasons for ex exceeding exceedIng ex- ex it Advertising value Is a frequent consideration With ex exceptionally exceptionally ex- ex large ground spaces there may be portions in the center of a building left in darkness which can be economically used for extra elevator shafts The estimate of ot maximum economic height was based on average normal condi condi- It has been necessary to compute compute com corn this height he says because of ot the tremendous values of land Architects have had to figure Just how high a building should go to bring the maximum net returns Individual cases vary but on an average we have found that the most efficient height for a building Is about twenty-five twenty stories It is at this height that a building generally generally generally gen gen- pays the greatest rate of ot re returns returns returns re- re turns on the cost of bt construction But where the land is extremely extreme extreme- ly valuable It is desirable to go higher so that the additional rentals rentals rentals rent rent- als even though proportionately less may be applied to increase the re return return return re- re turn on the total Investment In Including Including including in- in construction and ground cost In average cases the net re returns returns returns re- re turns continue to increase up to about forty stories Structural steel terra cotta and other modern building materials have hav practically knocked the limit off of or possible altitudes It is explained ex ex- so that only the economic factor holds them down A number of elevator arrangements arrangements arrangements ar ar- ar- ar have already been de designed designed de- de signed Mr 1 Lamb says to free the skyscraper of or its limitations but thus far the most radical of ot these these- have not been put into operation Skepticism as to their safety and practicability must be entirely re removed removed removed re- re moved before they can be used One plan which has met with fa favorable favorable favorable fa- fa comment provides for two elevator cars In each shaft The upper car would be an express making making- no stops until it had gotten well above that portion of ot the building served by the lower car which would be a a. local Thus the two would never meet except at the bottom where they would take on and discharge passengers on two separate floors Another plan would provide express express ex ex- press elevators like express subway subway subway sub sub- way tr trains ins stopping for example at every tenth floor L Local el elevators would operate In shafts parallel to them each one only ten stories deep The local shafts would not be connected connected connected con con- with each other Thus Ina in ina ina a building of forty odd stories there could be four local elevators operatIng operating operating oper oper- directly below one another but In separate shafts with no possIbility possibility possibility pos pos- of or collision Whatever plan is ultimately worked out BO so that It meets with official and public approval Mr Lamb believes It will be the development development devel devel- nt of or the elevator which will set the skY skyscraper craper soaring to new heights