Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
A NEW DISTRICT BUILDING
A Plan For One Submitted to the District
Commissioners
An Addition TO the City Hall Designed
to Accommodate All the
Municipal Omces.

whether Congress appropriates money or
not for the erection OF a municipal building.
the Commissioners will put themselves on
record as having done everything in their
power to bring about this much-needed
building. Today they received from the
District architect, Mr.. John b. Brady. an
elaborate plan for q municipal building.
The plans show a proposed addition to the
City Hall along its south front. incorporat-
ing the area now utilized a parking
space. in no manner injuring the lot or
ventilation OF the court Eouse, giving a
municipal building containing 183, 112 square
feet of floor space. sufficient to meet the
requirements of every department con-
nected with the administration Of the city
government. This building is designed to
be fireproof, with skeleton of steel in
closed with walls faced with stone, and can
be erected, he thinks, for $5Y2, 4Y7 and COM
pleted and ready for occupancy In two
years.
The Plans.
The following Is a description OF the
building:
The plan submitted divides the building
into five divisions or departments, namely,
q central arcade, two connecting wings and
two pavilions.
grand entrance hall, providing an arcade
sixty-four feet wide. forming a thorough
fare to the center Of the court house, with
elevators on the east and west sides, COM
muEicating with a public reception hall on
the second floor. and a public map and file
room on the third floor. To the east of the
arcade in the connecting wing OF the first
story are located the collectors office, the
license clerk, excise clerk, board of review,
and beyond, in the east pavilion, the as
SCISSORS office, occupying a space seventy
feet wide and one hundred and twenty
feet long. The second noor in this section
Of the building contains the official quarters
of the civilian Commissioners, the executive
department, the district attorney. superin-
tendent Of charities and the city surveyor 6
Offices and record rooms, and the third
floor is devoted partly to the engineer de-
partment. In charge Of subsurface work.
and the fire-alarm and telephone appa-
ratus rooms.
West of the Arcade.
To the west of the arcade previously men,
toned. on the first floor. will be found the
Offices Of the water department, the inspec-
tors Of plumbing and buildings, District
architect. and beyond. in the west pavilion.
the auditors department
Above on the second floor, are placed the
engineer department, covering the field of
surface work. and the offices Of the Engi-
neer Commissioner. communicating direct
upon the central hail. and opposite the room
Of the president Of the board OF Commits
sioners; and upon the third floor the con-
meeting wing 16 devoted TO the surface work
pertaining to the engineer department, and
In the west pavilion the space Is utilized for
public library.
The Basement.
The basement of, the east pavilion is ar
ranged for police headquarters. providing
offices for the major. captain. detectives and
clerks. prison or cell room. museum and
rogues' gallery and record room. Adjoining
in the connecting wing are the offices OF
sealer Of weights and measures. property
room and cafe, and in the vest pavilion
will be found the health department and
offices Of the fire department and the nav
room Of the disbursing clerk of the auditor s
office
Adjoining, in the connecting wing, are the
o1nces OF the superintendent Of the water
department and draughtsmen attached to
IT, property room and general file ROOM
Under the central portion Of the building
or arcade are placed the boiler and elevator
machinery rooms dynamos etc. The grades
OF the streets are such that the basement
noors OF the pavilions will be only three
rect below the pavement, and for liberal
lighting and ventilation for the connecting
wings. wide, open areas are placed parallel
with the north and south wallis
The general outline Of the building is such
that 1t offers no obstruction to the light.
ventilation or comforts of the occupants of
the court house, and. 1t is claimed, will not
encroach upon any part Of the reservation
or park that the public will miss or feel
itself deprived Of.