Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17
THE NEW PENSION OFFICE.
The Magnificent Italian Palace
Erected by the Government.

Erected by the Government.
THE CENTRAL HALL WITH IT'S ROOF OF IRON
AND GLASS WHERE THE INAUGURATION BALL
WILL BE HELD-THE ROOMS OPENING INTO
GALLERIEs-AN EXTERIOR OF SOLID ELE-
CANOE.
An immense Roman palace, with its walls
surrounding an interior court yard and all its
apartments directly communicating with the
outside air and light is the main idea Of the
plan Of the new Pension building Just erected
in Judiciary Square. There are no halls in the
building. 1t is simply structure AZ feet wide,
covering the outside of a rectangular space ex-
tending 400 feet from east to west aud 200 feet
from north to south. This building is IS feet
high and is divided into three stories. The
rooms on each story are lofty and spacious-the
standard dimension of each room being 81 by
70 feet. Folding doors separate the rooms, SO
that if needed two rooms can be thrown into
one spacious apartment. The interior space
between the walls forms
LARGE COVERED COURT YARD.
or inside hall. the dimensions of which are LICK
SIC feet. This court yard will be rooted the
roof being Of iron, which rises at both ends
above the walls, the center rising still higher.
The sides of the roof will be of glass, to admit
the light. No horizontal or inclined glass
lights are used. as they allow too much heat to
enter the building. This court, q diagram of
which was published In last Saturdays STAR, is
where the Inauguration ball will be held, and as
may judged from the general description is ad-
miraoy adapted for the purpose. 1t has the
one great requisite in all such places-that of
ample floor rOOm-and its commOdiOus ap-
proaches and numerous exits will prevent the
crowding and discomfort which generally at
tend occasions of this character.
TWO TIERS OF GALLERIES.
run around the court. by which access ia gained
to the rooms, and these galleries. with their
Ionic and Doric columns, add to the architectu-
raj effect OF the hall. The lofty roof, supported
on high columns. in addition to the galleries.
will afford facilities for the decorators skill and
taste, and it is safe to say that no handsomer
room has ever been provided for the guests of
an Inauguration ball. In each front of the
building there is brick staircase, which leads
into landing on each story, and from thence to
the galleries looking into the interior hall. all
the rooms having entrances from the galleries
As the rooms occupy the entire width of each
side OF the building they are open to the light
and air on both sides instead Of on one side All
the outer windows will be double glazed, the
parallel panes being separated by about an inch
OF space, which arrangement is believed to be
equally effective in excluding both cold and
heat. The idea of building large hail. fully
hghted and ventilated from the outside sur
rounded by rooms, is an entirely novel one in
the architecture Of public buildings here Gen.
NJ. =. Meigs, the supervising architect and engi-
neer. has followed, in general way,
THE PLAN OF THE GREAT ITALIAN PALACES
and this building is the first of the kind ever
attempted IN this country It does away with
the dark, unwholesome halls that are found in
np9rlv all ho v,,hI h,;l
small and badly ventilated rooms which have
such deeterious effect upon the health OF gov
eminent employees. The roof will be of iron
and flre-prOOf that Of the middle third of the
building, as seen from the north and south, will
&c one story higher than that over the two
ends. The foundation is of concrete, resting on
the natural ground. Cellars and vaults for
DOilers. coal, etc, are excavated in the line of
the valley which formerly crossed the site and
which has been filed up. The building will
have LOG. 600 square feet of flooring and will
furnish accommodations for / 800 clerks.
THE OUTER WALLS
are faced with press bricks, laid in red mortar.
and decorated with mouldings and sculpture In
terra Gotta. The windows, cornices and the
general architecture; design of the building. is
Roman, and itirepeats some of the features of
the works Ofthe renaissance architects of the
Roman palaces and villas. The windows are deco
rated with pilasters, cornices and pediments in
the two upper stories. In the lower story hori-
zonta cornice, supported by terra Gotta consoles,
crowns the windows. A very pleasing feature
Is the course OF terra Gotta which marks the
first story. consisting or band three feet wide
running around the building, and representing,
by scuiptured figures, the various scenes and in.
cidents In soldiers life.
All the staircases and floors are Of brick. and
the galleries surrounding the central hall are of
brick masonry. resting on brick arches and
supported by cast iron columns. A deep cellar
In the northwest corner accommodates
THE HEATING APPARATUS.
which is similar to that used in the National
Museum, consisting of immense tubular boil
ers. This building has about twice the interior
space Of the National Museum, and the latter.
In the seyerest weather, Is kept at tempera-
ture Of from Is to IS degrees by an expenditure
OF about 81 tons OF coal per month. 1t is thought
that this building can be easily heated. and the
consumption of coal is placed at about one and
One-half tons per day.