Ilion High School - Class of 1941

The Utica Observer - August 3, 1948

'Modern' Home Costs Less to Build Than 'New' One, says Talented Ilionite

Article 2

top photo caption - FLAT ROOFS COUPLED with modern design will result in large savings in cost of materials and labor for new home construction, Ward Cole, youthful architectural student in Ilion, believes. He is shown above with several of his sketches in top photo.

There's A Difference, You Know

'Modern' Home Costs Less to Build Than 'New' One, says Talented Ilionite

Ilion - Houses of "modern" design cost less to build and are more practical than the type of homes generally being erected in this area.

This is the opinion of Ward A. Cole, 25, a senior in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who during the past school term received two first place medals in design out of a possible six.

The young Ilion architectural student, who resides with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asa C. Cole, at 36 Armory St., emphasizes the word "modern".

"I feel that homes built in this area, homes now being erected are not "modern" - just "new," he said. "Homes of 'modern' construction may be constructed more economically by following four basic plans."

COLES' FIRST POINT was in the construction of the roof. He described the gable roof as expensive due to the amount of material and labor needed and unusable space in the attic.

This cost in construction, he said, can be sharply reduced by constructing a "modern" flat roof which will require less material and less labor and eliminates attic space. As far as roofing material is concerned, Cole contends that roofing material is guaranteed for 20 years for both types.

He advised the use of skilled architects "who can get full advantage out of the building materials they use and who know what building materials to use for each particular building." The choice of materials depends on location, building codes, fire protection and labor laws he explained.

A third point was making use of the fact that the building industry is now standardizing materials to a four inch modular which Cole explained does away with labor cost due to the fact that "everything fits" and "odd sizes and shapes are eliminated."

photo caption - Many old homes can be modernized at low cost, claims Cole, who is shown with his dog in front of his parents' home on Armory St. The view at left shows dwelling before changes were made.

The final important factor, he contends, is that modern architecture believes in simplicity. He urged prospective home builders to "get interested in a building, not by a lot of fancy junk added on, but by the interesting relationship of the masses."

"THE MOTTO of our school and perhaps of all modern architects is: how does it work, how does it build an dhow does it look," he said. "Anything can be made interesting by the correct and successful use of modern building materials."

Cole hopes to graduate next June. He comes by the building business quite naturally, his father being a carpenter and his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Carroll, are sculptors and painters.

BEFORE his three years at RPI, he studied engineering at Syracuse University where he was on the dean's list.

As a student at RPI, he has done exceptionally well. The medals were for designs of a "Youth Hostel," a ski lodge and Summer camp for 15 girls and "A trade school for the building industry" which would cover a city block, 550x300.

The designs are now on exhibit at RPI and there is a possibility that the trade school plans may become a reality. Young Cole has earned an A rating which is rather uncommon in design at RPI. He has also earned an A rate in the structural course.

HIS OUTSIDE activities include being assistant social chairman of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, carpenter of the Rensselaer Society of Architects, a swimmer and participant in inter-fraternity sports.

His hobbies include designing and making modern furniture in wood and glass, photography and dogs. He also is a horticulturist. Relative to his garden he said, "In my opinion, my garden equals that of Mr. and Mrs. Carney's "out-door living room," except that I have no fish pond. I considered one but the family vote was 7 to 4 against it."

DURING THE CURRENT vacation, Cole is engaged in modernizing his parents' home, converting a dwelling on Otsego St., from one to two family-type and negotiating for the modernizing of another home on First St.

In conclusion, Cole said the addition of several architectural magazines in the Ilion library would do much in educating the people in "modern design."