The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-05
new OFFICE BLOCK
Contract for Bank Of Topeka
KS Building Awarded.
will Cost Nearly Fifty Thousand
Dollars.
FIVE STORIES HIGH.
The Front Will Be of Cut
Stone.
Wide Front Entrance on Kansas
Avenue.


A modern five story bank and office
building will occupy the site of the
Bank of Topeka, on the corner of
Sixth and Kansas avenues, as soon as
! the Transformation can be brought
about by the architects who have
about completed the plans and build
ers to whom the contract has been let.
| The cost will be between $4,000 and
| $4,000.
The Giles building which adjoins
| the bank on the north will be torn
| down and the building which is now
occupied by the bank will be remodel
ed to such an extent that it will lose
its identity. The partition wall be-
tween the two buildings will be re-
moved and one large building will oc-
cupy the site of the two. There will
be sub basement under the building
just as there now is under the south
half but the entrance on the corner
pretentfous entrance to the building
will be constructed in the center with
the opening on Kansas avenue.
The entire fronts of the present
buildings will be torn down, and in
their place a modern up-to date front
of cut stone will be constructed. The
brick wall on the south will be re-
modelled and large windows to con-
form with the idea of the architect
will take the place of the small ones.
Another story will be added to the
height of the present bank corner on
something of renaissance style,
which will also extend over the build
ing adjoining.
A modern electric elevator will be
installed about the center of the build
ing, with an entrance on Sixth avenue,
and will run from the basement to the
roof. The old vault which is now in
the building will be torn out even with
the first floor of the building and a
vault double the size of the old one
I, 49, L
third floor, where it will be reduced
one-half and continue to the top floor.
The front entrance to the building
which will be through a vestibule will
be in the center of the building on
Kansas avenue and on either side of
the entrance two stone pillars will sur
mount the steps leading to the inter !
Tor. The entire first floor will be given |
over to the bank with the exception of |
a small space in the rear of the Giles |
building.
According to the plans as contem-
plated the building will cost when |
completed between forty and fifty |
thousand dollars and all of the officers |
of the bank as well as their attorneys
Wilt be on oneShoor The basement |
which is now used by the army and |
clerks and bookkeepers of the institu- |
ton will be rented and a part used as |
a store room for the supplies of the |
bank.
A hall way will extend the entire |
length of the floors above the first and |
these rooms will be remodeled into |
modern office rooms for rental pur-
poses. The Giles building which Is to /
be torn down was purchased by the |
Mulvanes early in the winter and it is i
that the property sold for |
$4,000 spot cash.
With the remodeIing of the building
new furniture throughout will be in |
stalled and when completed the bank
will have one of the most modern
homes in the state. The Bank of Tope-
ka was established at the corner of |
Fifth street and Kansas avenue in July, |
1866 in the building now Occupied by
Clarence Young with q drug store by
]. r. and Joab Mulvane and remained
there until it was moved to the build
ing on the corner of Sixth and Kansas
avenue now occupied by the Savings
bank a number of years later.
In 1884 the bank was moved to the
present building which for a number of
years has been much too small for the
business of the institution and much of
the work has been done in the base
ment.
When completed we will have one of
the most modern banking buildings in
the vest said Mr.. Mulvane this morn
ng, land while we do not contemplate
The tearing out of the entire south wall
t will be remodeled to conform with
he architectural beauty Of the building
The windows will be widened all the
way to the roof and some of them may
De closed but this has been left to
he architects
There will be 16 office rooms on the
bird floor Of the building and the plans
# this floor will be duplicated for the
emaining stories above it. The area
way which is now in front of the bank