Features of the Flatiron Building

Features of the Flatiron Building Synopsis: This is a 5 page term paper written in MLA format explaining why any designer in the modern era should be interested in the Flatiron Building, constructed in 1902 in New York. The paper gives a description of the most captivating architectural features of Flatiron building that make it unique and admirable. The paper relies on 2 sources. The Flatiron Building Eric Nash clearly describes the Flatiron building located in New York City. Its construction was completed in 1902 and it is one of the most popular and best known skyscrapers in the world that derives its name from its iron like shape. It is an energetic combination of renaissance and gothic architectural styles. It is made up of spacious, well designed twenty-two stories which are divided into three parts, namely, the beginning, the middle and the end, just like a classical Greek column. The Flatirons striking shape and its exceptional height stretch its classical garb uneasily.1 Picture showing the beginning, the middle and the top of the Flatiron 1 Eric Nash, Manhattan Skyscrapers. (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999) 121. Eric Nash clearly shows that the building was constructed using structural steel frame with extensive wind bracing purposely made to resist sideways pressure from the wind. This reflects recent acceptance of the all-steel skeleton for skyscrapers in New York. The skeleton steel framing of Flatiron building is light and less susceptible to fire damages as compared to iron, hence making the building stronger and more durable. Use of steel skeleton in construction of Flatiron made it possible for the building to be elevated higher up to twenty two storeys as opposed to load bearing walls that previously restricted the height supportable by their loads. The building was constructed on a rectangular wedge piece of land giving it its classic captivating appearance from the ground to the sky. He further argues that unlike New Yorks early skyscrapers taking the form of towers that were constructed rising from a lower blockier weight like the contemporary Singer Building, the Flatiron buildin g has limestone and glazed terra cotta faÇade which is divided into a triangular base, shaft and capital.2. Eric Nash observed that Flatirons ornate but restrained facade was made using terra-cotta panels and stone creating forms that simulate any effects of rustication, making it long lasting. Rusticated limestone is uniformly detailed from the ground of the Flatiron building to the sky to ensure that there are slim chances of Flatirons destruction by environmental conditions. The Flatirons masonry insulation, its outer skin of stone and glazed terra-cotta protects it from any harsh weather conditions which could otherwise destroy the building. Besides this, the Flatirons rustication and heavily prornamented patterns of these walls, as well as the conservatively sized windows, give the faÇades a heavy appearance, this is attractive to the eyes 3 2 Nash 123 3 Nash 125 Picture showing Flatirons outer skin Andrew Dolkart observed that the multistory oriels in the midsection, which are prominent in many of Burnhams Chicago buildings, are just barely perceptible on the busy, more enclosed skin of the Flatiron. This greater visual weigh of the repartition of the overall design into a distinct base, a repetitive midsection, and a crowning cornice extended to 22 stories, makes the whole Flatiron appear column-like, distinguishing the building from the rest. He further observed that the long, thin triangular footprint of the Flatiron extrudes up through all its twenty two stories. With all three faà §ades facing the streets, this tall, thin building was designed to always have very well-lit office spaces. At the vertex of the Flatiron building, the triangular tower, which is only 6.5 feet (2 meters) wide and a height of eighty seven Meters is seen to describe an acute angle that is roughly estimated to be 25 degrees when viewed from birds eye view. The acute angled corners bring out a drama tic, exaggerated perspective which is unique and highly admirable. 44Andrew Dolkart. Architecture Development of New York City and the Birth of Skyscraper. (Columbia: Columbia University 2009). 11 Eric Nash further observed that the most acute angle of the Flatiron points north, making the building to appear like it has a little depth like a wall leaned precariously against the sky, distinguishing it from any other building in the neighborhood. The interior of the Flatiron has strangely shaped spacious offices with their walls cutting through an angle on their way to skyscrapers famous point. This gives the building quite a beautiful and attractive look. The gravity-defying illusion of the building is further enhanced by the enormous cornice projecting aggressively from the top of the building, giving the whole affair a top-heavy appearance. The elements of Flatirons design fit in comfortably with the general development of the firm in which the building was constructed.5 According to Andrew, The unconventional triangular lot coupled with exceptional height transformed architectural conventions of Flatiron into a beautiful unique structure. The building materials used for Flatiron were cost effective, efficient and made it possible for it to be quickly erected. Flatiron was indeed a perfect architectural solution to Americas growing downtowns in the 20th century. It consists of 13,400 square meters of office space and definitely one of the Stockholms new landmarks. The striking visual presence of this uncommon vertical mass is what makes the building instantly famous both with tourists and those in the arts grappling with the nature of New Yorks modernity.6 5 Nash 136. 6 Dolkart 13. Conclusion This paper started by describing the shape and location of the Flatiron building constructed in 1902 in New York. It further discussed in detail the design and architectural features of the building that make it very unique despite the fact that it was constructed over 100 years ago. Its characteristic structural division into three parts, the beginning, the middle and the end gives it a unique appealing appearance. Its unique triangular shape design and the wedge shaped piece of land where the building was erected give it an excellent view hence it is easily distinguished from all other buildings in the neighborhood. The buildings small width of only two meters and exceptional height of eighty seven meters housing twenty two storey distinguishes it from ancient heavy wide buildings. While putting more emphasis on the uniqueness and durability of the materials in construction of Flatiron building used such as the revolutionary steel frame which is less susceptible to fire unlike iron , the limestone covering originating from the ground to the sky to protect the building from harsh weather conditions, and the white terra cotta skin in the Italian Renaissance style which gives the building a highly admirable dramatic perspective. From the findings of this paper, it is evidently clear that the Flatiron building is quite a unique building in both the structure and the design and therefore any architect or designer would be interested in its structure and design. Works Cited Nash, Eric. Manhattan Skyscrapers. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999. Dolkart, Andrew. Architecture Development of New York City and the Birth of Skyscraper. Columbia: Columbia University 2009. Sites https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1ObjectID=4665-0499 http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GRP/GRP024.htm

Latin is Not Dead Yet! :: College Admissions Essays

My hands were brittle and numb from the biting cold. I'd been raking leaves for just under three hours in the dwindling group of Latin Club members who braved the weather for charity donations. As a freshman, I felt somewhat alone in my new club, especially since my friends had backed out on my invitation to join me that Saturday. Nevertheless, I vowed to stick with it, and someday spark more interest in the activities...even in the cold. However, with my yet-unestablished high school reputation and lone voice out of 150 members, I continued to contribute merely my attendance at the meetings and activities. Sophomore year, I found myself embracing Latin Club as a way to have fun with my friends and contribute community service. But despite my enthusiasm, the club did carry a somewhat nerdy and uninteresting image probably stemming form the name. "Latin Club? Come on. Whatta you guys do in there...speak Latin...or play dead!?" a classmate remarked. I chuckled, then informed him that the Romans were known for drunken revelry, large feasts, and ceremonial orgies. After translating that into "music, food, and dancing," I reminded him that there was a Latin Club party coming up next weekend. Needless to say, I had little trouble improving the club's popularity. Junior year arrived, and I decided it was time to make my move on the Latin Club. The name consul, the equivalent of president, jumped out from the nomination form like a lone image in a 3-D comic book. However, the presidency required a partnership-an ancient Roman safeguard carried on symbolically in our club. No problem! My friend Sankeerth and I couldn't have shared more interest. Thus, the campaign for "Court & Sankeerth" was born, but by no means an heir to the throne. Our opponents were none other than two of the biggest academic powerhouses in the senior class: Annie, who aced the SAT; and Christy, president of two other major clubs. Together they proved our valiant efforts basically futile in their shadow. "Next year," spoke the voice of optimism. Senior year brought to our campaign the confidence of a veteran TV sitcom versus a "pilot." Could anyone else possibly have wanted to be Latin Club president as much as we did? We could take no chances. The only way to win was to buy big markers.

Floods in India Essay

India, being a peninsular country and surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, is quite prone to flood. As per the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the major flood prone areas of India cover almost 12.5% area of the country. Every year, flood, the most common disaster in India causes immense loss to the country’s property and lives. India Flood Prone Areas The states falling within the periphery of â€Å"India Flood Prone Areas† are West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Bihar, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. The intense monsoon rains from southwest causes rivers like Brahmaputra, Ganga, Yamuna etc. to swell their banks, which in turn floods the adjacent areas. Over the past few decades, central India has become familiar with precipitation events like torrential rains and flash floods. The major flood prone areas in India are the river banks and deltas of Ravi, Yamuna-Sahibi, Gandak, Sutlej, Ganga, Ghaggar, Kosi, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Mahananda, Damodar, Godavari, Mayurakshi, Sabarmati and their tributaries. Though the north-Indian plains prone to flood more, the â€Å"India flood prone areas† can be broadly categorized in three divisions: Besides the Ganga, rivers like Sarada, Rapti, Gandak and Ghagra causes flood in eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. The Yamuna is famous for flooding Haryana and Delhi. Bihar experiences massive dangerous flood every year. River Burhi, Bagmati, Gandak, Kamla along with many small rivers contribute to that. In West Bengal, rivers like Mahananda, Bhagirathi, Damodar, Ajay etc. causes floods because of tidal effects and insufficient river channels. * Brahmaputra and Barak Basins: The river banks of Brahmaputra and Barak gets flooded due to the Surplus water found in the Brahmaputra basin and the Barak basin. These rivers along with their tributaries flood the northeastern states like West Bengal, Assam and Sikkim. Jaldakha, Teesta and Torsa in northern West Bengal and rivers in Manipur often overflow their banks. * Central India and Deccan Rivers Basin: In Orissa, spilling over of river banks by Mahanadi, Baitarni and Brahmani causes havoc. The deltaic area formed by these three rivers is thickly populated. Even some small rivers of Kerala and mud stream from the nearby hills add on to the destruction. Southern and central India observes floods caused by Narmada, Godavari, Tapi, Krishna and Mahanadi due to heavy rainfall. Cyclonic storms in the deltaic regions of Godavari, Mahanadi and Krishna even floods the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu occasionally.

Oath of Allegiance to the United States

The Oath of Allegiance to the United States, legally called the â€Å"Oath of Allegiance,† is required under federal law to be sworn to by all immigrants who wish to become naturalized citizens of the United States. The complete Oath of Allegiance states: I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure (or renounce) all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. The basic principles of U.S. citizenship embodied in the Oath of Allegiance include: Supporting the Constitution;Renouncing all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was previously a subject or citizen;Supporting and defending the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;Bearing true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States; and Bearing arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; orPerforming noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; orPerforming work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law. Under the law, the Oath of Allegiance may be administered only by officials of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS); immigration judges; and eligible courts. History of the Oath The first use of an oath of allegiance was recorded during the Revolutionary War when new officers in the Continental Army were required by Congress to disavow any allegiance or obedience to England’s King George the Third. The Naturalization Act of 1790, required immigrants applying for citizenship simply to agree â€Å"to support the Constitution of the United States.† The Naturalization Act of 1795 added the requirement that immigrants renounce the leader or â€Å"sovereign† of their native country. The Naturalization Act of 1906 along with creating the federal government’s first official Immigration Service, added wording to the oath requiring new citizens to swear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In 1929, the Immigration Service standardized the language of the Oath. Prior to then, each immigration court was free to develop its own wording and method of administering the Oath. The section in which applicants swear to bear arms and perform non-combat service in the U.S. armed forces was added to the Oath by the Internal Security Act of 1950, and the section about performing work of national importance under civilian direction was added by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. How the Oath Could be Changed The current exact wording of the Oath of Citizenship is established by a presidential executive order. However, the Customs and Immigration Service could, under the Administrative Procedure Act, change the text of the Oath at any time, provided that the new wording reasonably meets the following â€Å"five principals† required by Congress: Allegiance to the United States ConstitutionRenunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiancesDefense of the Constitution against enemies foreign and domesticPromise to serve in the United States Armed Forces when required by law (either combat or non-combat)Promise to perform civilian duties of national importance when required by law Exemptions to the Oath Federal law allows prospective new citizens to claim two exemptions when taking the Oath of Citizenship: Consistent with the First Amendment’s assurance of religious freedom, the phrase â€Å"so help me God† is optional and the phrase â€Å"and solemnly affirm† can be substituted for the phrase â€Å"on oath.†Should the prospective citizen be unwilling or unable to vow to bear arms or perform non-combat military service because of their â€Å"religious training and belief,† they may omit those clauses. The law specifies that the exemption from vowing to bear arms or perform non-combat military service must be based solely on the applicant’s belief in relation to a â€Å"Supreme Being,† rather than on any political, sociological, or philosophical views or a personal moral code. In claiming this exemption, applicants may be required to provide supporting documentation from their religious organization. While the applicant is not required to belong to a specific religious group, he or she must establish â€Å"a sincere and meaningful belief that has a place in the applicant’s life that is equivalent to that of a religious belief.†