The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-27
IN YELLOW BRICK.
The Engineering Building
at Berkeley.
AN ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY.
1t VIII Make the Mechanics Course
of the University the Best in
the Country.

The new mechanics building which is in
the course of erection at. the State Uni
versity will be finished and ready for use
in short lime.
The rough outline OF the building as it
stands promises a very handsome and sub
stantial structure. The scantings which
are to support the partitions between tho
rooms on the first floor are all in place. The
roof over all parts of the building, which is
to be only one story in height, has been
boarded, au1 the iron framework which is
to support the glass roof over the court has
been erected. This court will be one of the
features of the building. 1t will be stu
ated in the middle of the structure and will
be covered by large circular glass roof.
The roof will be supported by the four iron
truSses which are now in place.
10 the right and left of the court are two
wings built exactly similar. The building
Is to be divided between the departments Of
mechanical and electrical engineering the
former to occupy the right and the latter
the left wing.
The two lecture-rooms Oh the right OF the
entrance will be devoted to lectures on
mechanics and dynaLlics and mechanical
arts. These Will open into rooms where
Will be placed full apparatus for PERFORM
ing experiments in strength of materials,
OF determining the cueffieient of friction
upon liquid bodies. AdS@ining will be
placed the large and cnmnodious machine
shop, fully equipped with twenty machines
in all. These consist of the latest improved
latheS and planes, so as 10 accommodate
seventy-hve students
Every student will work independent ly,
and, 10 further this end, each will be pru-
yided With complete set of tools. The
foundry, instrument aud blacksmith shop
Will facilitate these matters greatly and give
the gtuunntg tn fnlInu N
WORK Independently.
The lett wing OF the building Is similarly
supplied with two leeture-rooms in lrunT,
connecting with the instrumental room,
which Is independently supported on piers,
so as 10 be Tree from all vibrations. This
freedom from all jars is absolutely essential
In obtaining correct electrical measure
meDts
Adjoining the Instrumentation is a large
chamber which is to be used for phutometTic
experiments. These experiments. of course.
require dark room, and one-third of the
large chamber Is set asidefur that urpOse
Following this experimental department
are rooms for the dynam os, motors. storage
batteries aud general experimental room
Tor thermo-dynamiesa and hydraulics.
The builer-room, 35X2S, Will be equipped
with two 75-hOrse- power boilers, supplying
one Corllss and one high-speed 75-horse-
power engine. The dynamos in addition
to the laboratories will supply power and
will be lighted by are lamps, while Incan-
descent lamps will be used within tie build-
ings. Plans have been considered also for
furnishing steam to all the buildings for
heating purposes, but owing to the some
what complicated system required, they
will not be carried out atpreseDt, although
it is the intention to do so sooner or later
The electric plant will be installed as soon
as the building is completed and equipped
which Professor Hesse expects VIII be at
the beginning of the fall term.
The second story of the building will be
devoted entirely 10 Offices and drawing
rooms. Two of the latter. 20x40, will be at
the northern side. The light will be the
best that could be desired and the drawing
tables will be adjustable in height.
The building was planned under the SILL
peryson of Professors Hesse and Siadky,
and was designed by Mr. Curlett of this
city. The structure is made of yellow brick
and terra Gotta, and when finished will have
cost S65,00O. The equipment will cast
$4,000 more, and will be as complete as tnat
OF any laboratory in the country. As IL is
now, the mechaG zeal course atthe University
of California is the secoud-best in.the United
States. that of Cornell alone ranking above
it. II is expected that when the new build
ing is completed improvements in the
course Will be made which will make tho
department Of mechanics the best in the
country.