Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-30
AL WORKMAN'S BUILDING
DESCRIPTION OF AN ADDITION TO
THE CITY'S FEATURES.
A Building Which in Many Ways Is a
Model-Some of Its Particular Features.
A Good Design Well Carried Out.

Among the recent edifices which are
an ornament to the city is the building
just completed belonging to Mr.. AL
Workman on Spring street, between
Second and Third. 1t has frontage of
sixty feet on Spring street, and extends
through to the twenty foot alley at the
rear, giving depth of 155 feet.
1t is massive four story and base
ment building, with an imposing stone
and iron front Of most modern design
and construction, to withstand the
ravages Of time, mrking it a landmark
of the street. .,.a
The first story is divided into large
double and single store room, with
lofty ceilings lighted from above through
ceiling lights of embossed glass from a
large skylight described further on. In
the rear light comes by windows cover
ing the entire ends, and together with
the large plate glasses of the front, wi hich
are the admiration of all the passers-by,
make the store rooms the best lighted
and most desirable in the city. Among
the other conveniences of the store
rooms is a deep basement extending
Under the sidewalk, where it is
lighted by large dead lights,
and at the rear end, by q ten-foot
area in which run two freight elevators
for the handling of goods direct from
the alley, and thereby obviating the
necessity OF blockading the street with
goods.
The upper stories are a departure
from the ordinary plan of buildings OF
this character, and one is struck by the
large size and airy appearance of the
hall, which is twenty feet wide and 116
feet long, extending through two stories
and covered full size by an iron and
glass skylight, the largest in the city.
There are twenty-five large-sized. office
rooms upon each floor, or a total OF forty
four rooms, averaging fifteen feet by
nineteen feet each, containing fire.
place and each supplied with separate
gas service, making forty-four of the
largest, airiest and best-ventilated office
rooms in California. @7i 5i
Mr.. Workman did not fall into the
common error of trying to crowd as
many rooms as possible into given
space, but upon inspection of
all the buildings in the city,
and seeing the number OF small,
illy-lighted rooms without tenants, he
decided upon course of action, and to
reverse the common rule which seems
to hold sway here, of giving the least
possible rooms, decided to give the largest
and best for the money, and time will
prove the wisdom of his choice. ss
The approach to the upper stories is
near the center of the building, and
constitutes a principal feature Of the
front elevation, which bears the name
OF AL Workman the founder. The
stairway will be of hardwood, broad
and easy, wainscotted at the sides in the
same wood. and all finished in the
natural wood. fis
The building will be amply provided
against accident in case of FIRE, there
being fire hydrants sitnated upon the
second and third floors, and a ten.foot
porch at the rear of each floor, over the
ally, with stairways leading to the
ground and roof. The building will be
we'll supplied with modern convent
.ences, each room being furnished with
a marble stationary washstand. Two
lavatories are upon each floor, upon the
rear porches. The architect OF this
fine edifice was s. l. Haas.
THE IRON WORK.
Llewellyn Brothers, proprietors OF the
Columbia Iron foundry. fnrnished all
the iron work on this magnificent struc-
ture, and so we'll was it done that the
firm was very highly complimented by
Mr.. Workman, who pronounced it one
of the best executed jobs he had ever
seen. This. enterprising firm has ham
died some of the largest contracts ever
let in Southern California, and their
work is always highly commended.
They manufacture everything in the
iron line. They make specially OF
mining and power machinery and archi-
tectural castings.