Evening star., 1923-01-06
PLANS OF THEATER
! CLOSELY CHECKED
Work on Ambassador to
Start at Early Date,
/ CrandalI Promises.

Early start on the construction of
the proposed Ambassador Theater. to
be erected on the site OF the ill-fated
Knickerbocker Theater, at 18th
street and Columbia road, was prom
ised by Harry NJ. Crandall today, in
connection with the announcement
that the official check of plans for
the new theater is nearing compile
tion, in the office of the municipal
building inspector.
THE designing of the Ambassador
Theater has been marked by the
closest cooperation of the District
building department, the architect,
the structural engineers and the con-
sulting engineer" Mr.. Crandall stat
ed. The first and one of the most
important changes made in the new
structure is revealed in the fact that
the building will have its weight
distributed over therearth at the rate
of three tons to the square foot in
stead of four tons. This Is an ex-
tradordinary allowance, and has been
incorporated into the plans for the
new theater to vitiate the effect of
any vibration that may exist at present
or at any future time.
Procedure of Steel Structure.
The procedure with regard to the
steel structure has been equally
painstaking, and has been pursued
as follows:
The design for the steel was made
in the office of Thomas w. Lamb. the
ater architect, who has specialized in
this type Of building. The next step
was to turn this design over to
steel detailer and maker of shop
drawings.
AS the design and each detail was
H. h1v hn n
sulting engineer, Mr.. Baird, OF Hodge
& Baird. Mr. Baird is an expert on
bridge construction.
District Checks Plans.
After this design and these details
were completed and such changes
made as were considered necessary
by the consulting engineer, they were
fled with the District building depart
ment and are now being completely
checked by its engineers.
The contract for the steel has been
let to a Washington firm OF fabr1ca-
tors in order that an examination OF
the steel may be made by inspectors
from the building department during
fabrication, thus obviattng the neeo
of excessive examination In the nelo
where conditions are never perfect
for closely analytical work.
The new structure will not be what
is commonly known as wall bear
ing" The entire roof and balcony
of the Ambassador will be supported
on new structural steel columns,
which, in turn. will be supported on
concrete footings imbedded in the
earth. The earth, as has been pre-
viously stated. will be loaded to
much less weight than is customary
on a site of the mineral and geolog1-
cal quality of the 18th street and CO.
lumbia road property.
The portion of the old building
which has been left standing on the
18th street frontage has been thor
oughly examined by both the build
ing department and the architect and
in every instance where there was
the faintest question of doubt new
beams, new floors or reinforcements
have been, installed.
Roof to he Of Steel.
The entire roof of the building will
be built of STEEL with a gypsum slab.
This gypsum weighs about one-third
as much as the usual concrete roof
structure and has reinforcing iron
rods at about eighteen inches on GEN.
ters.
The exterior of the building will be
changed so as to bear no resem-
blance to the old structure. The por-
tion which is limestone will remain
limestone, but the, arches will be re-
moved and straight limestone Intel
construction substituted. The upper
portion of the building will consist
of an entirely succeed wall. with
small pilasters projecting therefrom
in an ornamental, light cornice.
The marquise surmounting the main
entrance will be entirely reconstruct
ed and lowered to the proper height
above the street to afford protection
in bad weather. 1t also will be very
much lighter than the old porte
cochere.
Like the exterior. the interior Of the
Ambassador will bear no resemblance
TO the former edifice. An Italatan
Renaissance design in black and gold,
with a little enlivening color. will be
the features. The soft draperies will
be Of gold and purple. The new seats
will be covered with an embossed vel
vet of old gold. and this, with the
black and gold carpet, will complete
the color treatment.
Plan New Stage Set.
A new stage set will be installed,
consisting of elaborate drapes, which