Within the last year the field of architecture 
has received some of its greatest contributions in the development and design of buildings 
such as skyscrapers or other buildings with similar 
tendencies. The most distinguished contributor in 
this field is Eliel Saarinen of Helsingfors, Finland, 
 who, through the efforts of Prof. Emil Lorch, was
 secured as the visiting Professor of the College of
 Architecture and who conducted classes from the 
middle of last November until the present Spring 
recess.


These classes were for advanced students or 
graduates and limited to a small number so that 
each one would be given individual attention and 
also absorb the ideals, philosophy and methods of 
approach of this man who for years has been considered one of Europe's greatest architects and who 
has also rapidly gained the favor of all who know 
of him in this country. Professor Saarinen first
 gained recognition in this country through his de-
sign for the Chicago Tribune tower in which he 
placed second. 


The students in these classes took separate problems in town planning, designing of community
 centers, campus layouts and other building groups 
of which Prof. Saarinen is considered one of the
 foremost authorities. This work was made doubly 
interesting thru the making of clay models of each 
project so that the mass, planning and detailing 
could also be studied in the third dimension. 


The last problem upon which the class worked
 as a unit was the design for a future college of
 Architecture. This was a very interesting problem 
as it was one of which the students had a thorough
 knowledge of the requirements, conditions and also 
the added incentive of working on a problem in which they were vitally interested.


It was designed as an ideal unit, containing many 
accommodations, which usually are not integral
 with present architectural colleges but nevertheless
 very necessary. It was also designed so that sec
tions could be gracefully added to the other por
tions, as it is well understood that the project as a
 whole would be beyond the means of the University. 
 This was a determining factor, as one might see
 from the many campus buildings which are now
 under construction, the ends where portions are to 
be added being very ugly in their temporary state.


The model is completed and may be seen in the 
architectural draughting room in the southwest
 wing of the Engineering building.


The students all feel that it was only through 
Prof. Saarinen, who did most of the work necessary 
in completing the model and the drawings; that
 the project was completed so satisfactorily. He
 instills a vigor, simplicity, and nicety of detail into
 his design which is peculiarly his own. It has been
 a great privilege and pleasure to the students in
 his classes to work with him. 


At present he is working on a solution of the
 Detroit traffic problem that promises to be a
 most farseeing and satisfactory project if one might 
judge from his previous plan for Chicago.


He sails for Europe in June and will be one of 
the judges at the Olympic games before he returns 
to Finland and his home. It is hoped that he will 
return again soon and give inspiration to other
 students of architecture as he has done this past 
winter.