The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-12
ISSUES DF .!SCPIpTION UF 5KYSCRAPER
 Presents Details
 American Trust T NJ ,MENADE ON TOP Tw enty Story Building Will Be so Arranged That Visitors May Go
 Up and Get View of
 the Whole Valley

minghams newest 20 story skyscraper has been sseud by Webb W. Crawford, president of the American Trust and Savings bank. The new building is now being erected at the corner of Twentieth street and First avenue.
 In booklet issued to the directors are shown the first details other than archi- tects' drawings of the new building. Ev- cry floor is shown by drawings and the character of all the interior work and finish is given.
 The description of the new building says that the roof of the building will be 1 hoored with red promenade tile, permit l ting tenants and visitors to see Jones valley from what will be the highest van tage point.
 The description as prepared follows: | "The American Trust and Savings bank building, designed by William Leslie Well ton and Mowbray & Uninger, associated architects is located at the southeast | corner of Twentieth street and First ave- nue. The offices in the building overlook
 the city on the north, south, east and west, and the upper stories command views of Jones valley and the mountains. The roof is hoored with red promenade tile. permitting tenants and visitors to view the city and it's environs from the highest point of observation.
 "All the rooms and corridors are ad- mirably lighted by direct natural light. there being no inside offices In the build ing.
 ''The building Is 20 stories high above the street level and one full story under ground. The height from sidewalk to coping is 241 feet. The basement ex- tends out under the full width of the sidewalk on both Twentieth street and First avenue. The dimensions above the sidewalk level are 50 feet by 125 feet. with a light court 6 feet and inches wide by 30 feet long, on the south side above the third floor level.
 "The building is designed in the classic style of architecture, with a base of the Corinthian order, three stories high, of Dover marble. surmounted by a rich frieze of ornamental terra cotta, Above this rises shaft of 12 stories, surmounted in turn by three stories in the Corinthian order of architecture, and terminating at the twentieth story in rich cornlce and cheneaux.
 "The Twentieth street and First avenue fronts above the third story are white mat glazed terra cotta, and the east and south sides are Sibley-Menge buff pressed brick. All windows in tho two street fronts are polished plate glass.
 "The entrance on the corner to the bank and tho main entrance to the of- flee elevator lobby on the Twentieth street side of the first story are of white Dover marble, richly carved. Over the main entrance to the bank is an elec- trio clock with illuminated dial.
 "The basement, 65 feet by 40 feet is one flight below the street level, reached by an ornamental stair from the elevator lobby on the first or ground floor. All five elevators go to the basement
 ''In the basement is a large working space for the bank, connected with the first floor by an ornamental stair. Here also are capacious burglar proof vaults for the storage of silver and other val uables; boiler and machinery rooms, and a space 45x50 feet for rental which is lighted through the sidewalks of both Twentieth street and First avenue.
 '"The first and also the second or meg zanine story will be occupied as the per- manent home of the American Trust and Savings bank, with the exception of the office entrance hall on the first floor on Twentieth street. The main entrance to the banking room is at the corner of Twentieth street and First avenue. There is also secondary entrance through doors in the glazed partition sep arating the banking room and elevator lobby.
 "The, banking room is two stories or 27 feet high, with a mezzanine gallery con- taining space for bookkeepers, directors room. vaults, etc.
 ''The main floor of the banking room is devoted to the various purposes of the bank, including the presidents room. officers room, safe deposit and savings departments, all arranged around a hoI- low square or public space. On this floor arc also five large vaults. At the ex- treme end of the public space is seen the mammoth round door of the safe deposit vault. CThere is a total of eight steel clad vaults distributed in basement and first and second or mezzanine floors for the use of the bank.) The entire second or mezzanins floor will also be occupied by the bank, except a large office, 90 feet square, without columns, on the Twentieth street front of the building.
 ''The main entrance to the building for tenants is through a carved marble door way on the Twentieth street side at the south end of the building. leading to an elevator lobby with Alabama Pavonat- zetta figured marble walls of full height to ceiling. Here the tenant finds bat tery of five latest type direct traction Otis elevators. running at a speed of $50 feet per minute, enclosed in ornamental iron grllss, on the right; and plate glass and marble partition, on the left. with doors opening into the banking room on ,Nse north side of the lobby, thus giving ess to the lobby through the entrance to the bank.
 " Tr 1 building conforms throughout to .,, s,st modern and scientific system of aro, s,so @ steel construction, all columns, haer,s nd girders being covered with pea,a9 ,,a, Nra cotta tile fireproofing. All ao..vw .e,.,s hre built of the same material, and the opeS s '' - " '' 0'i uoors. ..r, .,s,hg is equipped with the most
 ne uuiiu' Idern mechanical devices, app app oveu ain plumbing; direct steam 3uon 1 as Epiping, electric wiring in .aeasis' gas Messenger and two freight StiS o,e.,., eo ppaators: telegrpah and tele-