Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-30
OF MAPLE AND GRANITE
Attractive Additions to the Archi-
lecture of the City.
ENRICHED BY THE CARVER
for Large Business
Enterprises as Well as Provision
for Office Purposes.


have been erected on 18th street between
H street and Pennsylvania avenue and
New York avenue will be about COM
pleted These structures, which are not
only large but represent the best type of
building of that sort, are In such close
proximity that such circumstance
would alone seem sufficient to attract
general attention. One of the buildings.
that at the southwest corner of 18th and
Fl streets, which is to be the home Of the
Union Trust Company. beginning the
9th day of December next, in point of
floor space will compare favorably In
size with any structure in the city.
On the opposite side of 18th street and
south Of Fl street Is the Hsbbs building
which is also of large size. while the new
structure which adJolns 1t on the north
and which is to be the home of the real
estate corporation of Swartzell. Rheem q
Hensey, has not the height of the other
two buildings, but owing to the material
used as we'll as the architectural design
it loses nothing in the way of dignity by
contrast with its loftier neighbors.
Also for Office Use.
This latter structure is designed only
for the use of the business of the cor
poration erecting it, and has only one
story with a lofty ceiling. In the case
of the other two buildings consideration
has been given to the demand for office
room, and as the two structures rise TO
the height of ten stories the space in the
upper floors not needed by the corpora
lions erecting them has been arranged
for use as offices.
In fact, the necessities of the market
for office room arc such that both build
ings are now occupied by tenants. al
though in neither case have the principal
DOSSeSSlOD Ii
purpose of w. b. Hibbs & Co. to remove
from their present location in the Glover
building about the first of the coming
year, while, as stated. the second Monday
in December will find the present quar-
tiers Of the Union Trust Co.. 1414 F street.
deserted and the company In IT'S new
building. Swartzell. Rheem & Hensey
Co. will not move from the present loca-
ton, GIG F street, to their new building
until about the first of next March.
Modern Structures.
All Of the buildings mentioned are
built Of granite or marble, and in their
finish nothing has been omitted to
make them complete. The hand of the
carver has not been spared in enriching
the exteriors SO that the white marble
surface of the Hibbs building as it tow
ers ten stories above the level OF the
street Is given grace and attractive
ness to the eye by the ornamentation.
This is done without taking away that
massive strength which Is needed in
part has been to soften and make at
tractive what might otherwise be too
severe in its mass of marble.
The adjoining building of Swartzell.
Rheem & Hensey has its front stun Gov
cred with scaffofuing, so that it is i'm
possible to Judge of the effect of the
architects design. 1t is a type Of the
modern adapta ton of the old Greek forms
Of architecture. The massive columns
support an entablature which is enriched
in the fashion of the period of the renais-
sance. Through this arcade or partial
arcade which forms the front is the main
entrance to the building.
Shows It's Uses.
The Union Trust building, while rising
to the height of ten stories, has not
lost in it's exterior form the main idea
of the uses of the structure, which is
to be a safe and secure place for the
placing of the money and securities of its
customers. The base or lower story,
which is on level with the street, and
through which are the main entrances to
the banking room, has an appearance of
solidty and safety which typiheS the
character of the business that is to be
carried on there. This is especially the
case on the H street front. where the
bulk of the granite walls is broken by
the full effect of the mass is brought out
Along the 10Th street front tall win
dows are introduced to tie great advan-
tage of the interior without detracting
from the exterior effect owing to the
greater extent of that front. Upon this
substantial base rests the main portion
of the upper structure, which is dlstin-
guishedk by an arcade of great granite
pillars. supporting an entablature above
which rises the third section of the build
ing constituting the attic story with
balustrade finishing the design at the roof
line.
Abundance of Space.
The entire composition makes harmo
NOUS whole and one that is pleasing. so
that the new structure is an important
addition to the architectural adornment of
the city as well as a credit to Wood.
Dom & Demng. the authors of the de-
sign. The building is really much larger
than the street fronts would indicate FOR
the reason that it occupies in addition
an L-shaped piece Of land that extends
back to the alley. 1t is this liberal pro-
vision of building space that constitutes
one of the notable features Of the new
structure.
This is appreciated in the interior,
where there is nothing to give the no
ton of being cramped for want Of room
The banking room, which occupies the
main portion of the first floor. with en-
frances from the two streets. gives spe-
CldHy tQlS VI plcHly
of room. In fact, 1t is noI a mere i'm
preston, but an actual condition, as one
will find out as he walks down the broad
middle space between the screens which
separate the public part from the por-
tons occupied by the officers and the
employees.
Color Scheme.
There is not even vault in sight, as
that Is below stairs, while the rooms for
the use of the patrons of the safe deposit
department are on the same floor as the
banking room. but beyond it. The great
pillars of marble which support the lofty
ceiling Of this apartment are marked by a
coloring of light blush tint, and the
framework of the windows we'll as the
counter screens are of harmonizng
shades.
In order to produce good color scheme
it has not been necessary to finish the
coffered ceiling with a profusion of gold
lear. but instead the simplicity of the
treatment has been continued to the cell
ing. that the entire effect of the great
room is quiet and unobtrusive both in the
color and in form.
Leading south from the banking room
one comes into a hallway, with an en-
trance from 18th street, where the ele-
vators are and stairway leading to the
upper floors. There is also an entrance
from this hallway still south to the of
fees that will be occupied by Thomas
i Fisher & he fafo