"The fundamental principles of &ood architectural design are the same—will always be the same," declared Mr. William Emerson, retiring Dean of the Architectural Department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the course of an address at the Seventy-first Convention, A.LA. last September, The major purpose of the Institute's teaching was so to equip students that, upon graduation, they would be provided with such methods of work, habits of thought, and standards of performance as would enable them to cope competently with current professional problems and achieve leadership in their profession. What was adequate in currie colum or method twenty years ago was evidently unsuited to the needs of to-day but, he added, the fundamental principles of good architect tural design would always remain the same.
"Such touchstones as economy of space, directness of circulation, simplicity of construction, convenient inter-relation of spaces, suitable character and proportion, are as properly applied to the buildings of this century as to those of any previous 830 age.
"Believing this to be fundamentally true, our methods and curriculum," he said, "from year to year have echoed the changing needs of a changing civilization of new materials, of new methods of construction."
In conclusion he stated that "we have endeavoured to keep our minds open to new opportunities and resources without being carried away by current fads and fancies." He was convinced that in evolution, founded upon considered experience, the most inspiring guidance for their teaching would be found, Uncle Sam Invests
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.