By then, the original $6 million price tag had reached $7 million. "This was no one's fault," Doable said. The ederal grantswas give in 1965 and since then, Boston has experienced a yearly inflation of 12-15 per cent."

Doebele also pointed out that the building boom inflated wages and there contractors bids. The bid for Gund Hall was given to Moses Slotnick a 1927 graduate of the Business School in August 1969. According to Doebele Slotnick had planned to finish the building in August 1971 but the death of the elder Slotnick delayed its completion.

Further delays occurred when certain design changes were ordered after construction was already underway. "Prior to Dean Kilbridge's appointment in 1969, the faculty was very apathetic. Then, with construction already started, some of the faculty suddenly became interested," Baldwin explained.

Expenses could have been considerably reduced if the GSD faculty had permitted the design firm to carry out the program approved in 1968. But the GSD in 1969 was substantially different from the GSD that commissioned Gund Hall in 1965. It may be difficult to design a building for scientists (consider the dissatisfaction with the Science Center) but it is next to impossible to design a building that will make a large number of architects happy.

There was considerable unhappiness within the GSD itself during 1969. Sert had resigned as dean, and Doebele was named acting dean to replace him. After Kilbridge assumed office in the summer of 1969, the GSD underwent a policy transformation.

Sert had not kept a tight rein on the different departments, and some observers attribute the internal squabbling about Gund Hall to Sert's lack of control. Kilbridge, however, keeps a firm grip on the various factions, a policy that induced three GSD professors to bring grievance charges against him in early 1971. So the design firm had to content not only with usual production delays, but with the shaks at the GSD itself

"It was a long and painful experience," architect Baldwin says. "The attitude at Harvard is that anyone should be thankful for the privilege of working with this University. Well, I'd have to say the building is a success in spite of the GSD."

Baldwin's pride in the completed building is justified. Despite the delays and internal squabbling. Gund Hall effectively promotes the "togetherness" concept the GSD faculty seeks. But the design firm- not the GSD faculty- is responsible for the large multi- level open studio that puts all the departments under one roof. The studio area, which rests beneath a sloping free spanning roof, was orginally designed as a collection of private cubicles. The design firm, and particularly Baldwin, fought for a four-level studio connected by stairways. At each of these levels, seminar rooms and departmental offices are located opposite the studios.

"We argued that separate cubicles would fragment the school," Baldwin says. "When we suggested our open studio idea in 1968, it was enthusiastically received. But after the design was finalized each department began to resist the concept."

It was at this point tha the student faculty committee began its major review of the design. Although they reapproved the plans, Baldwin decided to make certain the open would remain an intrinsic part of the building.

The purpose of the free span is to assure the open studio cannot be converted. If we had built columns, the departments would have partitions in the studio by the dedication ceremony," Baldwin explained.

Design students will still be able to construct a private working area if they desire, Killbridge says that each student will be provided materials such as angle irons and wood slots to erect a semi-isolated space.

The large area encompassed by the open studio does prevent some noise-problems. When the GSD became aware of the acoustical complications during construction, orders were given to the contractors to change some of the office space into additional seminar rooms for those who found it difficult to work in the noisy open studio. Baldwin says the unnecessary expense was compounded later by another order to change some of the recently converted seminar rooms back to offices--after some faculty complained because of the lack of sufficient office space.

These structural changes bumped the final cost up to $8 million. Doebele says the Gund family was very sympathetic to the financial pressures throughout the project, and defrayed all additional costs. The W.T. Piper Auditorium which seats about 400, and the Frances Loeb Library were funded separately with the stipulation that the building was constructed to permit entrance to both facilities without entering Gund Hall.

But the $2 million cost overrun, although not a University debt, has severely strapped the Design School's maintenance budget. Gund hall is not a typical Harvard building-money was raised to pay for the building, but not for its upkeep.

The Design School also paid a portion of the cost for the Chilled Water Plant, which is connected to the new Science Center. The Plant will air-condition Gund Hall and other new buildings north of the Yard, as well as the Science Center itself.

One of Kilbridge's innovations is a restaurant on the firat floor, where students will be able to keep an eye on their studios. The indoor cafe had been sold to In-and-Out Subs, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kilbridge was enthused with the idea, but Baldwin expressed concern.

"We wanted a restaurant back in 1967, but the idea was rejected," Baldwin says. "Kilbridge did the design for this by himself. He's put it in a place where it will add to the noise, and the smell will probably drift into the studio area."

"We would have done it right in 1967 if we had been given the go ahead," Baldwin added.

Baldwin's bitterness will not disappear by Dedication Day, although the entire design team plans to attend. He says the firm's relationship with the GSD hasn't improved, but professional pride in the building will draw him to Cambridge on October 12. Besides he wouldn't want to miss the reunion.