The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-12
|ASTOR'S NEW HOTEL.



How Unique and Intricate Architectural
Problem Was Worked Out-Grand hall.
room e$ Bewildcring Dimensions Three
0teries High-Msssive Steel Construction
"A notable piece of construction now
IN active progress and which is destined
30 prove one of the more interesting and
representative architectural landmarks
OF the city is the new Astor hotel, al
Fifth avenue and Thirty fourth street.
Architects and builders have been par.
ticuiarly interested in the undertaking
because Of the intricate character of the
problem given to the architect to work
out, and the general public has been in
terested because of the importance of
She undertaking and the part the finish
ed structure is likely to play in the So
cial life of the metropolis.
Columns and girders and beams are
common enough. even the larger ones,
IN the architectural transformation that
is going on in New York, but such
giant trusses rs were used in this new
hotel building were never seen before
in any kind of construction in this or
any other country. AS was surmised,
this is explained by the requirements of
the owner, John Jacob Astor. Mr.. AS
tor directed that the ballroom and din
ing hall be built without obstructing
columns, if possible within the art of
the architect and that they should be
put just where they are. Accordingly
the building, though not a model Of
Cheapness in construction, will contain
many features that are new to metro
politan hotel of even the first class.
Directly back Of the entrance and be-
yopd the wide vestibule is garden
court which will form an addition to
the present garden court of the Waldorf
and of about the same proportions, ex-
cept as to height, this being three sto-
ries in height with glass roof. On
each of tho two upper stories there will
be gallery openings looking down into
the garden. Turning to the right there
il the Office and to the left a ladies'
large reception room. Beyond that is
the main dining room, which is coun-
terpart in size with that of the present
Waldorf, with which il is to be con-
nected. making one spacious saloon ex-
tending from street to street along the
avenue front
Still OH the ground floor. at the west
erly end of the building, beyond the
office, on the right Of the wide corridor
is the cafe and grillroom and on the
left the hotel bar. As has been said, |
this entire floor Of about 100 feet by |
B50 is divided only by partitions of
plate glass sst in ornamental iron
frames, the doors being of glass also; SO
that one standing near the avenue front
In the dining saloon or restaurant will
be able to see through the reception
room corridors, Office and vestibules to
the farther end Of the grillroom. This
view when set out with decorative
plants will be unique and highly inter.
esting. To the west Of the main drive
way and entrance are a special entrance
and vestibule leading TO winding mar,
BILE stair and an elevator which leads
direct to the ballroom on the second
door. 4. 49,, :, -
The staircases are all in richly tinted
Sienna marble, and the corridor which
leads from the dining hall or restaurant
to the westerly end of the building is
wainscoted and decorated also in Sienna
marble, OH the same scale of magnifi-
cence with that Of the Waldorf. The
transverse halls ON this floor and all
through the building will connect with
corresponding halls in the Waldorf, thus
making Of both structures one united |,
and homogeneous hotel building.
On the second floor is found the same
spacious corridor extending Longitude
nally through the building, with wide |
portals opening upon it from all sides.
The special feature of this floor, how |
ever, and one Of the distinguishing
characteristics of the building, is the
ballroom. This will be unequaled any
where in the world in area of unob-
structed floor space and in the magnifi-
cence Of its decorations 1t is this fea-
ture which required SO much that is un-
precedented in the engineering branch
Of the work OF constructions This ball
room, occupying the entire westerly end
Df the building, will have floor AREA
Of 85 by 9G feet 1t will rise through
three stories to An extreme height of 40
feet, and will have two tiers of galleries
divided of in boxes OH the easterly
side and conservatory extending the
entire length Of the room OH the wester-
ly side. In front and to one side of the
corridor and staircase will be large
foyer and in convenient proximity to
the ballroom several dressing and toilet
rooms
There will also be on this floor
room nearly 40 feet wide and rs feet
long, extending through two stories
along the street front and directly over
the main entrance. This will be called
She Astor gallery and will be used as
banquet room or for private balls and
dances, and immediately adjoining this
room at either end are other large
sooms, which can be used in conjunc.