The New York herald., 1921-10-02
New Marine Building to Have Deep Sea Movie

Those who contemplate an ocean trip
| for the first time are usually curious
about the life on shipboard. They want
| TO know just how they will spend their
] time between continents, how the ocean
looks when It's rough or calm and what
kind of social diversions they will have.
IT is to satisfy their curiosity that the
International Mercantile Marine has de-
cided 10 install moving picture theatre
in the company's new quarters at ]
Broadway This deep see movie will
occupy one section OF the great booking
department on the first floor. After the
! company has moved into its new home
| In November apparatus will be installed
! in the theatre for the projection OF films
| showing life on the company's ships on
the Atlantic passage or during the tropi-
! cal cruises. From these films prospec-
tive passengers who have come to pur-
chase tickets win get some idea of the
kind of time they are going 10 have on
| the trip.
! The completion of the company's new
! home calls attention to the renaissance
OF one of the most interesting business
structures in New York. Removal of
the builders stagings from the front of
the structure has been completed and
/ the renewed exterior revealed for the
first time: an exterior OF white stone
that mono would recognize as that OF
the old Washington Building. known for
a generation as the first skyscraper of
lower Manhattan. whose red brick walls
and slanting coppered roof and cupola
were landmarks seen from far down the
harbor, across the green OF Battery
/ Park
The transformation Of the building
has been more than an outward change
( ii has extended to the very vitals of the
structure. The building, in fact, has
been given not only q new skin but il
has been largely rebuilt ss to its frame
and done over in the main arteries OF
entrances staircases and elevator shafts.
Technically, the work of making over
the building has presented strong testi-
monial 70 the genius Of American engi-
neering and architectural deftness The
problem presented to the architect, Wal
ter B. Chambers. +. A. I. A.. was no
ordinary one. He was under the neces-
sity or rebuilding the structure, outside
end in, without dispossessing the tenants
on seven foors. The International Mer-
camille Marine Company will occupy the
first live floors of the completed build
ing.
The task involved sweeping struc-
tural alterations In the building and
called for many niceties of calculation
and execution. The work included ex-
tenslve strengthening of foundations In
some places the entire elimination of the
Seavy interior frame structure of the
first floor and the incorporation of the
space in that floor into the upper portion
OF lofty booking office; removal Of
roof and tower, and the construction of
TWO new stories in their place removal |
OF old elevators and construction Of new |
in a different place the relocating Of |
staircases; change In the location for !
fhe main entrances TO the building and |
the Introduction of entirely new ventilat- !
Ing, heating and electrical systems.
Exterior Quiet but Unusual.
In its exterior decoration and finish |
the building has a quiet but colorful !
richness, such as the traveller associ- |
ates with Old World palaces of days
when men wrought in more lesurely |
fashion. while certain heraldic shields of |
the worlds chief ports let into the outer
walls, in Venetian mosaics. accentuate
by their varied colors and gold an air
or artistic elegance quite uncommon
among business buildings.
From the stone carvings around the !
shields spring bronze sockets. in which I
will be placed staffs for flags. with the
Stars and Stripes over the main en- |
trance, and the distinguishing colors of |
the various lines of the company in |
minor positions.
Carvings. cunningly worked into the |
stone, suggest the uses to which the !
building is put. Over the arch of the !
main entrance, in the spandrels and
pediment, are shown Neptune. god of the |
ocean. and Mercury, god of trade. |
Above is the American eagle.
The architectural and decorative |
mculdings and carvings around the en-
treLceS and elsewhere are also made |
up of nautical suggestions. like sea |
shells. seaweed and star fish, while in the |
ironwork Of the elevator grills ar seen |
anchors and ropes, steering wheels and |
dolphin prows.
The distinguishing feature of the in |
terrier is the great booking office, eX-
tending the entire length OF the Battery |