Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-04

Description Of ths New kent County
Court House.

DesGrtr<-o4 81 t1E New hcnL No-hJ
Court House.
In The construction OF a boiiding
practical uaEty must flgst DC oonsId-
srea. then general style and beauty.
AL taess essentials bsve received az
rioEs consideration n the construction
OF the ne. Kent county court house,
which sianas within the .quare
bounded BY Kent street, Ottawa street
and Crescent avenue. The man en-
trance faces on Crescent avenue. and
10 seyenty-tWo feet wide, lBen there
arc entrances on each OF The other two
streets and one INTO the driveway SOUTH
The materials entering into the con-
ktruetOn OF The building are tlndley
brick, terra Gotta. BeTa sandstone and
ReGioEd limestone. The style or arch
itecture - the ROmanesque With mod
cru treatment. lhe outlines beng SUI
fclsutlY broken 10 give q stately ap-
ps.4Tance and to secure proper contrast
OF llghL and snadc. The various com
blnALcns Of scleauhc principles are
employed 10 combine simplicity. har-
mOay and grandeur. Tie sEyle OF
architecture . suited to tue building
Aaa the purpose for which u ia TO DO
used, the character OF the building be-
ing such zs to command respect for the
hlgh purposes % which Il - devoted.
In ils entire conception the aim has
been ~ meet the practical demands OF
a progressive sad cultured people.
Coa.traefioa OF the Bailding.
Following the scheme OF looking
FIRST 10 practical utility ia the consider
atom OF all questions the building IS
constructed OF stone 10 the line OF the
sscond story the balance Of the exterior
beng OF BRICK aad terra Gotta, al
these materials being ire proof. The
interior construction - OF iron, brick,
wood and terra Gotta, OF sound con-
structIon throughout Towering above
all IS dome of tine proportion stand
ing 200 feet above Kent street and add
Ing greatly TO the fine appearance OF
the building. The ro.unda, Ia the center
OF the building. - n magnificent
feature adding greatly 20 the beauty OF
the INTERIOR aud furnishing abundance
OF light TO the halls aud corridors Ii
Is 39x3g feet IN SIZE, having balcony
ut each door level. with solid iron col
umns oronzed and painted. Tne walls
are OF suitable finish 10 receive orna-
mentation, representing the wealth and
progress. and the various channels
leading To their development, which
have contributed TO place Kent county
IL the foremost ranks Of the county
sisterhood.
The requisites Of q county building
demand tnat II shall be easy OF access,
convenient, well lighted, heated and
ventilated, ana these have been iutelll-
gently provided for. The heating 10
by steam, both direct and indirect, the
boilers being placed IN Endorsement,
30 that condensed steam viii dow back
~ the boilers without traps or other
devices. The sub-basement also con-
tanned the fuel room.
Nov n Is Ventilated
The foul AR . removed from all
rooms through separate ducts connect
ing WITH large duct IN the roof, tnese
connecting With yentllators ON the roof.
Each duet or system of ventilation is
esti.natec TO change tho ar IN the build
ing three times per hour, the outflow
beng increased by steam coils placed
In the duets. The plumbing. water
supply and sewage are of the most im-
proved system known TO the trade,
making an inflow Vt gas practically I'M.
possible
The basement story has clear height
OF nsne feet. aud al rooms are we'll
lighted. The original specifications
called FOR brick door IN the base
meBt, but the demand for rooms Was
80 great that a cement floor was suostt-
tuted. making Office room possible.
The foar vide entrances. one on each
side OF The building. with broad and
Smpis corridors. give free access TO all
rooms. The ground stairs are placed
At the north side Of the rotunda, and
are constructed OF iron. A private
star leads direct from the clerks Office
% tae court room, and there IL also =
speaking tube connecting the two. The
corrider floors are tiled With white and
colored marbles. and are exceedingly
beautiful. The hydraulic elevator IA
placed where u Il most convenient 10
the three main entrances, and where
the light Is of the least value for
Offices.
second Floor stairway.
The sacond foor IL reached by the
elevator. or broad easy flight Of plat
form stars. witn massive iron rail-
mg. handsomely brcrzed sud painted.
Tha third fi0or u largely taken up by
the court rooms. bat TIE remainder il
occupied ~ large room for the board
Of supervisors and various COMMITTEES
rooms.
AL rooms throughout the building
srs lighted directly from tue outsids
snd al nave sunlight during some p0r-
tca OF TIE dsy.
The dtvison Of rooms on The frss
floor = sensible ard convenient. The
reg ster OK deeds has a suite Of three
ro1ms N the northeast part of the
k4.,t.ffnu Tha man offieo a 93x3c fact