New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
Concern to Have One or
Finest Mercantile Plants
in the World.
ADDITION WILL
DOUBLE FLOOR AREA
French Limestone and White
Brick To Be Used-Thirty-
nine Elevators Planned.

Z
I construction. the store OF r. Altman a,
! Co will not only be ono OF the largest
! mercantile buildings as 10 floor area IN
! the world but also one Of the most per
| fectly equipped Every modern improve
J ment known 10 architectural and ensi-
neerng science viii be In operation.
| rendering the entire building technically
perfect as to light. heat ventilation
motor power and distribution Of floor
/ space
( The new addition. like ;he existing
/ store. win follow in detail the dignihed
! STYLE OF Italian Renaissance. complete
harmony Of design and character being
/ assured throughout. Except on the Madi-
son avenue side French limestone, i'm
! ported direct from the quarries for the
purpose will be used in constructing the
/ building no TO and including the eighth
/ floor. the remaining four floors being OF
white brick.
on the Madison avenue side the central
! elevation of the building viii be Of white
| brick above the second floor. the heavy
corner pavilons at each side being Of
I French limestone 10 the eighth floor.
4
corners at 3lth and 18th streets and Madi-
! son avenue balancing the corresponding
windows on the Fifth avenue side OF the
, building. and spacious entrance, with
marouise extending over the sidewalk to
the curb. will form a stately and impos-
! ing facade.
/ Within the building an increased floor
?
/ than in the present store. will afford con-
siderable extension Of space TO every de-
/ partment. ana. in consequence, better
facilities for the transaction Of business.
, From the first floor to the fifth, inclusive.
! each floor viii be opened through from
! Fifth TO Madison avenues and from @th
10 3jth streets Above, on the floors de-
voted TO the workrooms, storage of re-
: serve stock. etc. the arrangement will be
different.
The executive and administrative Of
/ fees will all be in the new building. the
general Offices being on the fifth floor.
/ Waiting and rest rooms for patrons VIII
also be on the fifth floor and will be
much more commOdious than the present
! ones
| Separate luncheon rooms and rest
rooms for men and women employees will
! be on the twelfth floor and space has
! been reserved for large, completely
4 equipped modern Kitchen IN which whole
some. palatabe food will be prepared.
| TO be served in the employees luncheon
/ rooms at minimum prices. On this hooF'
! too. will he the physicians and nurses
quarters, consisting Of a suite OF wei.
appointed offices and small operating
room for emergency use. Plans are also
under way for the establishment Of an
! emploves' recreation room on the roof.
! Among the specific advantages TO he
noted i'm the enlarged building will be the
increased efficiency of elevator service
| There will be twenty-five passenger ele-
vators. ten elevators for the use OF en-
| ployos. two truck elevators Of immense
size and capacity, and five smaller Gle
,ators for private or fitting room use
making thirty-nine in all. The electric
1 power plant will be one Of the largest
in New York city, and will supply cleo
tricity not only for the lighting of the
building. but for the driving power OF
elevators. motors for pneumatic tubes
sewing machines, etc. and motors for the
| immense vcntilating equipment
Apropos Of ventilation, it may be note,
that a system for completely Offering anc
cleansing the air and for humidifyinS y
so that IL will not he too dry for healtf
and comfort will be installed with The
new equipment, and will perform its ser
vice for all the air supplied to the build
ing 10y the fresh air fans.
Air filtration, as effected by 1oder.
scientific methods, not only provides toI
the publication " the air out serves Il
cool IL during the warm summer days
every precaution being taken 10 prevent
moisture being carried into the buildins
while the temperature is subjected to au-
tomato control 50 that carefully reSl'
lated supply of humidited air Is assured
at all times.
An interesting feature Of the Altman es-
"a plishment is the artificial refrigerating
plant for the safe storage OF furs. The
| walls. ceiling and floor Of the storage
vaults are completely encased in CORR
sheathings from four TO five inches thick
I
perature but absolute protection against
moisture. The temperature may be rcgu-
lated to register anywhere from 10 10 =
degrees Fahrenheit. the precise degree be-
ing governed by the varying requirements
of different furs.
The storage plant covers an immense
area, as. although the floor space is lii
vided into compartments. mainly rs q
protective measure against fire, the vaults
extend across the entire width Of tbs
ninth floor of the building. All OF tbs
! space is kept cool and dry by the refrSer'
ating apparatus, consisting Of rows upo.
rows OF pipe coils, through which is
forced q solution OF calcium and watcl
maintained at a zero temperature, ant
over which the refrigerated air is Acp
continually circulating. None Of th'
brine coils are in the storage vaults
hence there is absolutely no possibility 81
damage to valuable furs through leakage
from faulty pipes or moisture deposits.
other than the extension Of the scope
OF each OF the existing departments
which will OF necessity be the logical 1u;-
come Of the enlargement Of the store, Il
IS not the purpose OF Z. Altman & co
10 effect any material change in the cou-
duct of the business. The policy OF tht
house will remain the same. the firm
only desire being TO contribute in even
possible way 20 the comfort and conycn-
fence Of its patrons. The spaciousness OF