Evening star., 1937-09-09
FEDERAL RESERVE
HOME C|TY'S BEST
New Building Held One of
Most Beautiful Interiors
of u. S. Structures.

The new Federal Reserve Board
Building, open TO photographers for
the first time, reveals one of the most
simply beautiful and elegantly ap-
pointed interiors of any Government
building in the National Capital.
Strictly speaking. the Federal Re-
serve Building is not Government
building. The Board OF Governors
has its own money. which did not
have to be appropriated by Congress.
This gave them greater latitude in
both design and IN expenditure of
funds.
Such greater freedom has brought
a result which is surprising to vis-
itors entering the structure for the
first time.
Outstanding features Of the inte-
rior are the monumental staircase
area in the central part and the sec
ton set apart on the second floor
front for the Board of Governors.
From the time one sets foot inside
the main entrance from Constitution
avenue, the visitor is confronted with
an interior not so much of magnih-
canoe, or size, as Of proportion de-
signed TO give an impression of SIM
pie dignity. As the board itself has
appropriately described its own home:
Both exteriors and interiors rely on
harmony Of proportion rather than
ornamentation.
A corridor two stories in height ex-
tends from the Constitution avenue
entrance through the central portion
OF the building to the C street en-
trance, flanked by the monumental
stairs.
Marble Halls.
The double monumental staircase
rises on either side from the central
portion in single impressive fight.
from the first to the second floor. The
steps, walls and architectural tyeat-
ment Of the stairs in this portion of
the building are of travertine, while
the floors are of American marble.
with mosaic borders on the second
floor. The ceiling is composed of
glass, with the coat-of- f-arns Of the
United States in bronze and nodded
glass as the focal point of interest
above the stairs. The ceilings Of the
surrounding corridors on the second
floor are decorated with emblems of
the IL Federal Reserve Banks. Over
each of the IL doorways from these
corridors six on each side, are the
names of the cities in which the Fed
eral Reserve Banks are located and
the designations Of their districts.
On the second floor the section set
aside for the Board of Governors is
furnished in mahogany. with period
furniture of early American or So
called Federal style. Much of the
furniture is trimmed in colored
leather, some in deep plush. This
special section is set of from other
parts of the building, and is entered
through an elliptical anteroom. ad-
joining which is a reception room
furnished with elegance and distinc-
tion.
Many-Piece Table.
The main board room, with a huge
table made in pieces, so as to be used
In different sizes, is in reality a hall.
55 by 80 feet. 1t has a monumental
fireplace of Tavernelle Fleuri marble
at the west end. A bronze relief. set
into the marble, symbolizes stability
and productivity" In the wall above
the mantel is reproduction of the
coat of arms of the United States.
On the east wall of the room Is a
specially painted Federal Reserve map
OF the United States, which glows un-
der artificial illumination. The floor
is Fontainbleau pattern parquet. with
border Of Belgian st. Anne Petit Me-
lange marble. The bases of the walls
and the doorWays are of Tavernelle
Fleiro marble. The walls and CELL
ings are of painted plaster. Bronze
frames hung on the wall contain sta
tistical charts.
A main cafeteria for board employees
and three special dining rooms for
the staff and board of governors are
OF the most modern design. The spe-
cial dining rooms are entered through
quietly appointed reception room.
paneled in Norway knotted pine. and
furnished with comfortable deep di-
vans and chairs The furniture in
the special dining rooms is of special
early American design in maple.
Chairs and tables in the cafeteria
are OF the sturdy so-called "old meet
ing house" maple.
The building is air-conditioned
throughout.