The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-23
Contract Let for Thompson Hall
Office Building.
To Be Situated at s. w. Corner
Kansas Avenue and Fifth.
SPENCER OF Topeka
Local Contractor Makes Lowest
Bid on Structure.
Work of Razing Old Buildings to
Commence on May 3.

At o'clock last evening the con-
tract for the new Thompson-Hall Of
fee building to be erected at the
southwest corner of Kansas avenue
and Fifth street was let to F. NJ.
Spencer of this city. The contract
provides for the completion of the
building by January 25. 1910. 1t will
be six stories in height above the
basement, constructed of re-enforced
concrete and absolutely fire proof
The cost of the structure will be
$125,000.
The new Office building will be
erected by a syndicate in which w.
A. L. Thompson of the Thompson
Hardware company of this city and
Horace Hall control the stock. 1t will
be erected for offices only-the Mer-
chants National bank being in the
first floor occupying the northeast
be constructed for the purpose of
giving to the renters roomy com
Portable modern offices. Mr.. Thomp-
son stated this morning that his store
would not be moved to the new loca-
ton. The Thompson establishment is
a mammoth concern with big store
rooms and extra Offices across the
alley from the present location. The
new building is strictly an office struc-
ture
WnGn UnlSneu lI6 luOAIApSOil-LAd4l
building will be one of the largest in
the city. Practically seven stories in
height with a So foot frontage on
Kansas avenue and $50 feet on Fifth
street modern in every respect, with
an outside facing of gray pressed
brick, this new building will loom up
several stories above the surround
ing property. Just at the brow of
the Kansas avenue hill extending
down towards the Kaw river the
al ctr iagI
higher from the broad view up the
avenue. 1t will complete the three
blocks of heavy brick faces between
Fifth street and Eighth avenue and
break the monotony of two and three
story "reds" which have been such
fixture on Kansas avenue ever since
Topeka stepped into the city class.
The only woodwork in the build
ing will be the wooden doors and the
window castings. This constitutes the
only infammable material in the con-
struction of the building. Re-en-
forced concrete will be the main ma
terial. Iron beams and pillars Will
not be used at all-everything will be
concrete-re- enforced The floors will
be of tile, the lathing of metal and
the mop board itself will be of con-
crete 1t would be impossible to start
fire in one room and burn the
building. 1t would die out at the
scene of it's origin. Even the Stairways
will be of concrete and stone.
When finished the bank room will be
one of the finest in the city. Big lob
bies, massive vaults, beautiful fixtures,
luxurious private offices and new
idea-a ladies' waiting room in the
front of the building. This bank will
have the whole northeast corner and
most of the first floor. A stairway in
the south end of the building on Kan
sas avenue will lead to the elevator and
to the halls. Store rooms will also be
6niShpd tho first street floor On
the Fifth street side another entrance
will be made. This will also lead to
the elevator and halls. A basement
will be fitted out into office and store
rooms. A large part of the basement
is taken up, however, with the founda-
lions of the big vaults above.
The owners stated this morning that
a large number of the offices had been
rented already. This being a fire proof
structure the top floor is more popular
than the lower floors. The top floor of
this building will give one of the
grandest views of the city. On the
north and up through into the west and
down into the east the big Kaw valley
can be seen to a great advantage. The
building being situated on the brow of
a big hill the whole north part of the
city will be open for inspection. The
Thompson-Hall structure will undoubt-
eddy be the Masonic Temple of To-
peks-"
The site of the new building is now
occupied by the Marshall drug store n
two story brick. and another smaller
building of the same construction.
These buildings will be razed at once
as soon as contractor is secured to do
the work. 1t is expected that work will
commence on Monday, May g. The
renters can hold their stores until Nav
l. The razing will be pushed as fast as
possible in order that the building
gangs can commence their work The
foundation of the new building goes
into the ground several yards-this be-
ing one of the hardest tasks in con-
nection with the construction of the
building. Mr.. Spencer. the contractor
will do the whole work with the ex-
ception of the plumbing. elevator and
fixtures The hardware alone for the
building will cost over s., 900. This is a
wholesale price. too.
With the construction of this nlinia-
ture skyscraper Kansas avenue corners
from Fifth to Tenth street will be oc-
cupied by large imposing buildings.
The Mills building to be erected within
the next year and several other con-
templated structures on the avenue will
complete the walls of the busy thor
oughfare. Topeka is experiencing the
first touches of a big building boom.