The central administrative building, as shown in the illustrations, is surmounted by a dome of impressive height, to be seen and felt by the people, to whom it should stand as the symbol of civic order and unity. Rising from the plain upon which Chicago rests, its effect may be compared to that of the dome of St. Peter’s at Rome. The buildings are shown raised on terraces one story in height. These terraces would give great dignity to the structures, and would mark the transition from them to the great open space on which they front. The motifs surmounting the terraces, with such other accessories as refuges, shelters, subway stations, balustrades, and lamps, would combine to unite the square into an harmonious whole. The group of buildings may be connected by subways, or even bridges treated in the form of colonnades or arcades of a decorative character, all contributing to the general effect of the square. Space at the civic center should be reserved for the next county building which Cook County will build when the present one becomes too small to accommodate the county business. Experience shows that in this country a public building is no sooner finished than it is found not sufficiently extensive to provide for the public business that it was meant to serve. The designs for this square and its buildings are suggestions of what may be done, for the report does not seek to impose any particular form on structures that when executed must carry out a program written by the growing necessities for adequate accommodations for administrative offices and the rapidly developing demand on the part of the public for order and beauty in the arrangement of these elements of city life. [Illustration: CXXXIX. CHICAGO. THE PROPOSED CIVIC CENTER SQUARE, SHOWING THE GROUP OF SURROUNDING BUILDINGS, CROWNED BY THE CENTRAL DOME. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO ] The administration building, located on the main axis, is placed in such a manner that, while dominating the square, it does not obstruct the flow of traffic which will be poured into this open space from the streets reaching it, and in particular from the great radial arteries. The latter thoroughfares are schemed to center upon an obelisk in the middle of the square, the base of which it is proposed to combine with a decorative fountain, treated with the greatest richness, since it will be located on the spot which is to be the center of interest in the city.