Planning Office Begins Study of Older Houses

The University Planning Office has begun a "thorough and detailed survey" of the older House buildings with an eye to suggesting possible improvements, Harold L. Goyette, Planning Officer, said yesterday.

Arthur D. Trottenberg, Assistant Dean of the Faculty for Resources and Planning, asked the Planning Office to undertake the survey. The idea grew out of a consensus among the five members of the Tenth House Committee, of which Trottenberg is chairman, that such a survey would be valuable.

According to Goyette, the first job of the survey will be to decide "criteria for what make a desirable House." After that, he said, survey workers will carefully examine floor plans and draw up recommendations for improvements. Goyette will soon appoint a project co-ordinator to supervise the survey.

The Planning Office will submit its report to the Tenth House Committee. Goyette said he hopes to have it ready before the end of the academic year.

The Planning Office may recommend that renovations in the older Houses be made in conjunction with the building of the tenth House. Several Masters and Senior Tutors, notably John H. Finley, Jr. '25, Master of Eliot House, feel that something should be done to enable the older Houses to give students the privacy offered by Quincy and Leverett.

Finley Cites Opinions

Finley said yesterday that under the new system of uniform room rents, "the Houses have two options. They can offer some men first class and others steerage, or they can offer equal conditions."

He added that he thinks the University would be justified in spending a considerable sum to regroup suites in the old Houses in order to give private bedrooms to the largest possible number of students.

No Policy Change

Trottenberg emphasized yesterday that the survey does not represent a change in University housing policy, but is rather part of a continuing program.

"We are always looking for ways to improve the Houses," Trottenberg said. But he added that "there is a limit to how much can be done to improve these ancient buildings."