Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-28
The Home of the American Security and
Trust Company.

Trust Company.
4 HANDSOME ADDITION TO THE
1 a business architecture of the CITY will be
made by the erection OF the new building of
the American Security and Trust Company on
street between 14th and 18th streets. The
entire lot, which is 32x10O feet, will be occu-
pied by the building. and its unique feature
will be that it will practically contain but one
room. According to the plans, which were
prepared By Messrs. Barry. Simpson q An
drews, architects, the interior will be q large,
handsome room, with lofty vaulted ceiling
extending to the roof. a distance of fifty feet.
Special attention has been given not only by
the architects but by the building committee
appointed by the directors to the ventilation.
There is large window in the front. from
which light and air can be admitted and then
in addition there will be three oval donies in
the ceiling filed with loaded glass. The front
is handsome design. which will be worked out
either in granite or Georgia marble. The treat
ment suggests the Italian style of architecture.
The principal entrance is in the center Of the
building and Oh level with the street, and
will be marked by low. heavy arch. There
are small windows on each side. and above. fill
ing the main space of the 'front.' will be q large
window. marked by graceful arch. Above
the design is finished with parapet. projecting
and carried on corbels and buttressed strongly
at the ends by circular tourelles. Across the
face, in bold. block letters will be the name of
the company. All the openings in the front
will be protected by wrough. iron griles and.
as solid walls of masonry form the other three
sides. the new building will present not only a
pleasing appearance, but will give that impress
sion of sOlidity and security which is appro-
pirate to the character of the business to be
carried on there. The interior arrangement
was determined upon after visit made by
members OF the building committee and the
architects to Philadelphia and other cities. where
buildings of this kind were inspected. The
banking department o. the companvs business
will of course be located near the main en-
trance Allowing a sufficient interval for a
lobby screens of mahogany and plate glass
VIII be built down the long counting ROOM
leaving in the center a passagewav. which from
the main entrance to the end of the room or
hall, will be seventy-five feet long. The screens
will mark the divisions of the compartment
devoted to the various branches of the busi-
ness. At the end of the counting room will be
a solid wall of masonry with an arched opening
in the center, forming the entrance to the safe
deposit department.. Here will be large
massive vault, built OF steel. imbedded in ma
sorry. The vault will be completely isolated.
and on each side will be compartments for the
Use OF those renting the vault boxes, where they
can examine their securities. Above the vault
will be room for meetings of the direct tors
shut off from the main hall by glass partitions
and above this another room which will be oc-
cupled by portion OF the clerical force. The
windows in the directors room will open on a
handsome balcony ornamented by grille
OF wrought iron and overlooking the
counting room. The effect of the interior will
be pleasing. the architect and committee having
happily combined the artistic and the practical
IN both the exterior ard interior design. The
committee of the board OF directors who have
been intrusted with the important duty of
selecting plan and experimenting the erection
named: James Z. Fitch chairman; Crosby S.
Noyes, Martin +. Norris Matthew G.. Emery
and NJ. W. Beveridge. They selected the design
submitted by the architects, Messrs. Barry.
Simpson and Andrews. in competition. and they
have commissioned the architects to begin at
once the preparation of the detailed drawings.
1t is the intention to have the building ready
for occupancy by November l.