Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-27

Standing az n monument to the en-
terprise and power of modern Amerl
can journalism. the National Press
Building. the most colossal of all non
governmental office structures III
Washington, now is virtually com
pletcd on its expansive site at -Four
tcenth and + streets. where once stoot
the famous old F,bbitt Hotel. and VII
make it's public debut next THURSDAY
when the building will be declared
officially open.
This huge building. II stories high
the unusual size of which was made
nossible by n special act of Congress,
represents an outlay of about $4,000.
O00. which is in excess of any similar
urivatc enterprise carried To frultlon
here in many years. and now mas an
appraised valuation OF approximately
$l1 900 goo.
Besides housing close to 1000 office
rooms and commodiouS quarters OF
the National Press Club. promoters OF
the project, the building contains as
one of its outstanding attractions tne
Fox The3fter, which, with a seating
capacity Of 1900, is by far the largest
in Washington and. it is claimed. the
1arcest throughout the United States
with the exception of those IN New
York and Chicago.
Construction Near Completion.
While one sCaffolding still stands at
the front of the building. construc-
tion of the structure is in its last
stages. the most that remains TO be
done being the plastering and otner
finishing work and the setting up OF
the plate-glaSS and copper fronts OF
the first floor on + and Fourteenth
MI. LN,tll n
builders. are under contract to COM
plete the building by September l.
The theater, which has been leased
by the Fox TheaterS Corporation for
a term of 81 years. will be formally
onened September IS, it has been an
nounced. and will be under the per
sonal direction of s. l.. Rothafel. pet
fer known as Roxy" who plans TO
develop a Washington Roxy gang
of performers and to make arrange
ments for broadcasting weekly pro-
grams from the theater.
The National Press Building. de-
signed by c. W. & George l.. Rapp.
architects, of Chicago. follows no as
tinct architectural style. but has fea-
lures of the Italian with its pllasters
and massiveness. and the theater es-
necially shows features of the Italian
as we'll as the French mode In the
interior of the lobby.
The great mass of the building.
which has a frontage of 2I0 feet on
T. street and of $50 feet on Four
teenth street, is relieved by the YER
ticle plaster lines. which accentuate
the height of the building. Though
these pilasters, or half column effects
OH the facade of the building, are not
as deeply revealed as originally
planned, they serve as distinct orna-
menta ton to what otherwise would
prove a rather fiat-faced structure.
according to local opinion.
Interior of Building.
The building exterior is of terra
Gotta construction, giving an appear
ance that often is mistaken for bona
fide stone blocks, and is f1reproof
throughout.
A great interior court in the center
of the building provides light and air
for the interior rooms and the lower
central portion of the building, where
light might prove inadequate, is taken
up by the theater auditorium. A bank
of seven elevators serving the build
ing are located in the southwest cor
ner Of the building, abutting the VIII.
lard Building on Fourteenth street,
thus occupying the one remaining
dark portion of the building.
The theater portion of the building,