The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
Equitable Building
Turned Over to
OwnersL ast Week
..- SO 5000. 900
Structure a City
Within ITSELF.
Whole World
Called Upon to
Help Build 1t

Without any ceremony the new EIui-
table Building. occupying the block on
Broadway between Pine and Cedar
streets, and through to Nassau street,
was turned over last week to its own
ers, the Equitable Office Building Cor
poration. by the Thompson Starrett
Company. and the army OF 1000 skilled
workmen that had been many months
employed on the structure took up OPP
erations in some other part of the ever
changing city. Soon 1t is hoped by the
corporation that they will have this
"city within a city" populated by $4,000
or more citizens.
In the number OF actual workers, in
the volume OF business done. In wealth.
In variety OF occupations and industries
represented. in actual space devoted to
business, there are few cities Of l00.-
900 inhabitants that can match the big
structure; while in facilities for doing
business. the care taken for the COM
fort, convenience and safety Of its work.
ere, no city in the world. no matter
what its population. can compare with
Il.
within its.walls 1900 workers. men
and women, will earn their livngs.
They will represent every step in the
scale Of wage earners-from the un-
0kllleu WOITtn youHs uoyS dHu
girls to whom a dollar day seems big
wages, to tho great corporation official.
whose salary of $4,000 or more Is none
too large for the services he gives.
There are few lines Of business which
~:;l not be represented In this wonderful
work OF industry-banks. trust COM
panies-the Equitable Life Assurance
Societys offices-railroads. manufactur-
ers. professional men of all callings and
merchants in various lines
In wealth this "city within a city"
will rank high in the list OF cities. Be-
sides an actual cost for construction
close to $40. 900. 900. within its walls
the wealth represented and the volume
Of business transacted will be exceeded
BY few cities in the United States. Here
are reference figures for comparison
with other large structures in the world
and with those that may be contem-
plated: Value of land. $4,000. 600;
value of building. $l5.000,000. ground
level area. 10000 square feet; cubical
contents, 26.OOO,000 feet rentable floor
space. 100000 feet; height from side
walk to pent house roof. 545 feet: space
per floor 10000 square feet; weight
Of steel frame. $4,000 tons: weight OF
granite. brick and marble. 100000 tons
number of bricks, l4.50O.O0O; rock bed
foundation. SIS feet below curb around
.Sntire site: doors. 10000: windows. g.
100 and elevators, 90.
The new Equitable Building IL in the
form of the letter II. the front and rear.
or its narrow sides, are exactly similar
and face on Broadway and Nassau
street The Pine and Cedar street sides
are also identical The building is solid
up to the seventh story, beginning with
which at the two ends are two large
light courts open 10 the streets
hi, 49,
classical freely interpreted and inspired
from the best examples Of Greece and
Rome-chiefy Roman and Cor!nthian
The interior is finished in mahogany and
marble. the ceilings and upper walls be-
Ing plaster with ornamental cornice and
friezes.
The creation OF the Equitable Building
II probably the greatest piece OF team
work on record-great not only in ac-
complishment but in the number OF those
who have taken part in II. IL represents
the team work OF thousands OF men-of
quarry men. Of stone cutters, OF steam
ship and railway men, of drivers OF
horses and automobile trucks, OF rivet-
ers brcklayers. draughtsmen. excava-
tors, architect, engineers, superntend-
snts-and this same team work IL ex-
tended TO the factories ana shops OF
every manufacturer or producer OF ma
terial or equipment that went into the
structure.
1t Ia interesting 10 note. In connec-
t!on with the new Equitable Building.
that the first elevator ever installed in
an Office building was installed in the
hrst Equitable Building, completed In
1871 and designed by George u. Post.
These elevators were run for nearly
thirty years Mr. Post used to relate an
a~e~ n DOWN
town Office building. the offices in which
wore heated by stoves, and with one
steam elevator serving the needs Of the
eananta A prominent steam engineer at
that time suggested 10 the landlord that
he would furnish steam heat to the ten
ants in exchange for added rental equal