Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-16
YEARS WORK BEGUN
Building for New Home of the
University Club.
FIVE STORIES IN HEIGHT
Will Be Located at Fifteenth and I
Observation-Disclosures Of
Italian Renaissance.

University Club members are now in a
position where they can gaze on the site
at 18th and 1 streets northwest. and see
In the minds eyes the fine new club
house which has just been started.
sketch by George Oakley Totten. jr., the
architect of the building, shows a five
story building of generous proportions
and artistic and dignified design. 1t is
expected that the housewarming will
take place within a year
The club had hoped to begin earlier
with this construction, but certain
changes were made in the original plans
and the architect had to spend consider
able time in the redrafting.
Although a nine-story height will per-
haps be reached by the club building at
some time it is thought best at this time
to go to a height of five stories only. Ad-
ditionaI stories can be erected without
inconvenience to the members, 1t Is stated
by the officials of the University Club.
Facing Mcpherson Square.
The main entrance will be on 18th
street, facing Mcpherson Square. A sec
ondary, or ladies' entrance, will be on L
street. The main entrance will nave
tiled floor and the walls will be treated
with ornamental Caen stone. On the left
of the main entrance there Will be an
alumni or college room. paneled In chest-
nut and decorated with college flags ana
insignia, thus giving it a college atmo-
sphere. This room will be used not only
for lounging, but for large alumni gain
erings, and can be reached through the
entrance on / street without interference
to the club members. There is ladies'
retiring or reception room. and coat
room adjacent to the ladies' entrance,
with a private elevator to the ladies'
dining room, on the floor above.
Opposite the main entrance on Io,h
street is the main staircase, Of marble.
with ornamental balustrades, leading to
the second or main floor. To the light OF
the main entrance will be found the re-
ception room, grillroom, office and coat
room.
The club will be served by. two pas
senger and one freight elevator.
Spacious Lounging Room.
On the second floor will be the princi-
pal lounging room, extending the entire
front on 18th street This room will be
80 feet long by q feet wide and q feet
in height 1t will have richly vaulted
ceiling and spacious windows, giving an
uninterrupted outlook over Mcpherson
Square The walls and ceiling will be
paneled and decorated in colors. A large
and imposing fireplace of stone VIII be
located in the north end. This Will make
an admirable lounging room and can be
used as a lecture hall or for other club
purposes The library, also on TINS moor
adjoining extends along the south front
There are also committee rooms on TINS
floor Above all these rooms, except .ne
CT tories is a meZZanne room, where the
card and additional committee rooms are
located.
room. private dining rooms and ladies'
dining room. A unique feature or the
main dining room will be the long row
of windows, making the long slde OF the
room one line of light. This room Is pam
beams and cornice in plaster com
nletely equipped kitchen. with pantr!es,
are also located on this moor.
Bedrooms on Top Floor.
There are fifteen bedrooms on both the
fourth and fifth floors, single and Ell
suite. with private baths. me decora-
tions of these rooms will be in keeping
with the building and each room will
have a private telephone.
The building will be surmonnted by
roof garden, a very desirable feature
during the extreme heat of summer. A
billiard room accommodating six tables,
will be located in the basement.
The first two stories will be built OF
gray limestone. heavily rusticated Be
tween the windows OF the second moor
will be panels for college coats of arms.
The upper stories will be of tapestry
brick. matching in color the stenework
below A heavily projecting corn ce.
rich,w Wanted i'm colors will crown the
building.
The style of architecture is the early
Italian renaissance The design is simple
and dignified, and, 1t is thought. eX-
Nesbit Company of New York and
Washington will erect the building