USDA_Whitten_Building_Elevators_5_&_6_Modernization_Hist._Preserv._Report_03_23_2018.pdf

HISTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT

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MODERNIZATION OF THE

SOUTH BUILDING

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Project No. SBM 95-D-01

1400 INDEPENDENCE A VENlJE, SW

WASHINGTON, DC

PREPARED FOR

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BY

SH.ALOM BARANES ASSOCIATES, ARCIDTECTS

AND

SYSKA & HENNESSY

FINAL CONCEPT SUBMISSION

OCTOBER 14, 1997

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IDSTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT

Table of Contents

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. Purpose and Scope

B. Project Team

II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

A. Building and Project Location

B. Architectural Description and Existing Conditions - Restoration Areas

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2.

3.

4.

5.

Independence Avenue (Head.house) Entrances, Vestibules, and Lobbies

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

Fourteenth Street Entrance and Lobby

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

C Street (Tailhouse) Entrances and Vestibules

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

First Floor Elevator Lobbies

a. Description

b. Existing Conditions

Public Elevator Cabs

a. Description

b. Existing Conditions

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6.

7.

8.

Auditorium and Lobby

a. Description

b. Existing Conditions

First Floor Public Corridors

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

First Floor Public Toilet Rooms

a. Description

b. Existing Conditions

C. Architectural Description and Existing Conditions - Rehabilitation Areas

1.

2.

4.

Second through Sixth Floor Typical Elevator Lobbies

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

Second through Sixth Floor Public Corridors

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

First through Sixth Floor Typical Offices

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

Second through Sixth Floor Public Toilet Rooms

a. Description

b. Existing Condition

PRESERVATION DESIGN ISSUES

A. Recommendations - Restoration Areas

1. General Recommendations

a. Floors

b. Walls l C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

2. Independence A venue Entrances, Vestibules, and Lobbies 23

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a. Floors

b. Walls

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d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

3. Fourteenth Street Entrance and Lobby 25

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a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Ftunishings

4. C Street Entrances and Vestibules 26

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

5. Auditorium and Lobby 27

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

6. First Floor Elevator Lobbies 31 l a Floors

b. Walls

c. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

7. Public Elevator Cabs 33

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a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors

e. Furnishings

8. First Floor Public Corridors 35

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a. Floors

b. Walls

I C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

9. First Floor Public Toilet Rooms 37

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

B. Recommendations - Rehabilitation Areas 39

I 1. General Recommendations 39

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

2. Second through Sixth Floor Typical Elevator Lobbies 41

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

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3.

4.

5.

e.. Furnishings

Second through Sixth Floor Public Corridors

a. Floors

b. Walls

c. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

First through Sixth Floor Typical Offices

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

Second through Sixth Floor Public Toilet Rooms

a. Floors

b. Walls

C. Ceilings

d. Doors and Windows

e. Furnishings

IV. APPENDIX: PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. Purpose and Scope

To document existing conditions and define the overall scope of work required to restore areas on the First Floor, and to rehabilitate the upper floors, of the Department of Agriculture, South Building, in accordance with the Historic Structures Report dated October, 1988, and based on recent field observations.

To serve as the basis for discussions with the GSA Regional Historic Preservation

Officer, the District of Columbia State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory

Council on Historic Preservation regarding the treatment of those areas. These discussions were undertaken as part of the Section 106 review of the project.

To facilitate a broader discussion of the treatment of public spaces throughout the building and the effects of a building-wide systems modernization on those spaces.

The scope of restoration includes the following specific spaces, as described in the

Historic Structures Report:

Independence Avenue (Headhouse) Vestibules and Entrance Lobbies

Fourteenth Street Vestibule

C Street (Tailhouse) Vestibules

First Floor Elevator Lobbies

Public Elevator Cabs (Headhouse)

Auditorium and Lobby

First Floor Public Corridors

First Floor Public Toilet Rooms

The scope of rehabilitation includes the following specific spaces, as described in the

Historic Structures Report:

Second through Sixth Floor Typical Elevator Lobbies

Second through Sixth Floor Public (Headhouse and Tailhouse) Corridors

UNITED STATES DEPART11ENT OF AGRICULTURE SOUTH BUILDING

ffiSTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT 1 i

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

B.

First through Sixth Floor Typical (Headhouse and Tailhouse) Offices

Second through Sixth Floor Public Toilet Rooms

This report reflects the completed conceptual design of the overall Modernization project, as well as the completion of the Section 106 review as it applies to the final

Phase 1 (Wing 3) design, Project Team

1. A/E Firm

2.

3.

Shalom Baranes Associates/Syska & Hennessy Joint Venture

Shalom Baranes Associates, Architects

Gerald Tritschler, Project Manager

Patrick Burkhart, Historic Preservation Architect

Derek Satchell, Historic Preservation Architect

Client Agency

United States Dept. of Agriculture

Haren Dhokai, R.A., Historic Preservation Reviewer

General Services Administration

Caroline Alderson, WPT Deputy Historic Preservation Officer

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ffiSTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT 2 l

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II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

A. Building and Project Location

United States Department of Agriculture, South Building

14th and Independence Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

Restoration and Rehabilitation of Building Interiors

B. Architectural Description and Existing Conditions -- Restoration Areas

1. lndepe»dence Avenue (Headbouse) Vestibules and Entrance Lobbies

a. Description

The Independence A venue entrances are comprised of seven vestibules with corresponding entrance lobbies (identified from east to west as headhouse Wings 1 through 7), each having three sets of door openings, except for those entrances located under the pedestrian bridges, which have only two sets of door openings. Because of their misalignment with the associated wing corridors, there are no entrance lobbies at Wing 2 and 6 headhouse locations.

Vestibules have one set of double-leaf doors opening to the street, aligned with a second set opening into the lobbies. Outer doors have been replaced with new doors of glass and dark bronze-anodized aluminum. Inner doors are clear varnished oak, with a large single light and a chromimn or nickel-plated metal push bar. Both doors retain their original transoms of leaded glass in wood sash. Entrance lobbies are rectangular-an expanded section of the bead.house corridor at the door openings.

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Flooring in the vestibules and entrance lobbies is of glazed polychrome tile laid in geometric patterns within rectangular fields.

Pink Tennessee marble is used to border the tiled areas, as a series of steps ascending to the lobby level, and as a wall base and wainscoting.

Radiators with bronze grilles are recessed into the east and west walls.

The upper part of the walls and ceilings is plaster. Ceilings within the vestibules have single shallow segmental vaults parallel to the entrances. Original lighting fixtures at this location have not been identified. Large ceiling-mounted florescent light fixtures currently provide vestibule lighting. Entrance lobby ceilings compose a grid pattern of primary and secondary exposed plaster beams aligned with each bay of the three lobby entrances, and supported by large wall mounted brackets. Original lighting is presumed to have consisted of single bronze rosettes, each having an open lamp and supporting a small suspended glass shade. Individual fixtures were mounted directly to the llllderside of the secondary plaster beams centered in each bay. Modem ceiling-mollllted florescent light fixtures now provide lobby lighting.

Existing Condition

All Independence A venue vestibules and entrance lobbies are generally in good condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Original wood and glass outer doors have been replaced with new doors of glass and dark bronze-anodized aluminum.

Weatherstripping is missing.

• Floor mats cover original tile vestibule floors.

• Black skid strips have been applied to the marble stair treads.

• Modem ceiling surface-mounted fluorescent lighting has replaced original lighting fixtures in the vestibules and entrance lobbies.

• Bronze wall bulletin boards are soiled and damaged.

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II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

• Non-original display cases, security desks, furnishings, planters, etc. have been placed in these spaces.

2. Fourteenth Street Vestibule

a. Description b.

The Fourteenth Street entrance was originally intended to serve as the building's main entrance and was given exceptional treatment. The entrance has three bronze and plate glass doors opening to Fourteenth

Street. Two small windows separate the doors, each having eight lights. Vestibule flooring has glazed polychrome tile laid in geometric patterns similar to those found at other entrances, and is bordered by

American Travertine. Walls are completely clad in polished Kasota

Yell ow limestone with a base of Verde Antique marble. Radiators are recessed in niches at the north and south ends of the room and are concea1ed by ornate bronze grilles. There are eight steps of American

Travertine, which extend the full length of the space, ascending to the level of the First Floor. The vestibule ceiling consists of a shallow segmental vault with a small bronze cornice immediately below it at the spring line. Original lighting fixtures at this location have not been identified.

Existing Condition

The Fourteenth Street vestibule is in good condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Floor mats cover original tile vestibule floors.

• Glazed floor tiles on entrance landing are chipped and broken.

• Travertine stair treads are chipped with applied black skid strips.

• Motorized handicap lift has been installed in the vestibule.

• Marble walls in vestibule are heavily soiled and chipped.

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II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

• Marble wall bases are chipped and cracked with deteriorated grout joints in vestibule.

• Plaster beamed ceiling in lobby has been concealed by a suspended acoustical tile ceiling.

• Modem ceiling-mounted fluorescent light fixtures have replaced original lighting fixtures in the vestibules.

3. C Street (Tailhouse) Vestibules

a. Description

There are seven C Street vestibules. When compared to those at

Independence A venue, these areas are very modest. All of which have a small vestibule opening to a small elevator lobby, consisting of ideIJtical material and decorative treatments. Floors are laid with a red quarry tile field set within a pink Tennessee marble border; marble base and wainscoting; flat plaster walls and ceilings; and doors made of plate glass and clear-stained oak. Original lighting fixtures at these locations have not been identified.

b. Existing Condition

The C Street entrances are in good condition and close to their original appearance, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Floor mats cover original tile vestibule floors.

• Original metal handrails at vestibule stairs have been painted.

• Marble wainscoting in entrances is heavily soiled and chipped.

• Marble wall bases are chipped and cracked with deteriorated grout joints in vestibule.

• Modem ceiling surface-mounted fluorescent lighting has replaced original lighting fixtures in the vestibules.

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II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

4. First Floor Elevator Lobbies

a. Description

Elevator lobbies located along Independence Avenue vary slightly in size and configuratio� but are generally rectangular in shape-· an expanded section of the wing corridors, located adjacent to the entrance lobbies. Material treatments at the elevator lobbies are similar to those found in the entrance lobbies. The ceilings are composed ·of a grid of primary and secondary exposed plaster beams aligned with each elevator bay, supported by large wall-mounted brackets. Original lighting is believed to have consisted of single bonze rosettes, each having an open lamp supporting a small suspended glass shade. These fixtures were mounted directly to the underside of the secondary plaster beams, centered in each bay.

Modem ceiling-mounted florescent light fixtures now provide lighting in these areas.

Typical original elevator doors, bronze with a series of four low-relief recessed panels, remain in wings 1 and 5 head.house locations. At the comer of each square panel is a slightly raised circle. Most original elevator doors have been replaced with plain satin finished bronze or stainless steel doors, or brushed bronze doors which are facsimiles of the original door design. All elevator entrances have pink Tennessee marble surrounds, culminated by a slight pediment. Original bronze elevator call buttons and hall lanterns have been replaced at various locations throughout the building.

The Fourteenth Street elevator lobby is a smaller space with floor and wall materials identical to the adjoining vestibule. The ceiling is comprised of a grid of primary and secondary exposed plaster beams similar to other elevator lobbies, concealed by a suspended acoustical

UNITED STA TES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SOUTH BUILDING

HISTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT 7

II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

b.

tiles. The floor tile is laid in a single large field inset in a marble border. Original lighting is preswned to have matched other lobby areas, but has been removed.

Unlike other elevator doors found in the building, the two original sets of bronze elevator doors at the Fourteenth Street lobby have elaborate panels incorporating moldings of waterleaf and egg-and-dart motifs, in lieu of roundels. Centered between the elevators on the east wall is a

Kasota limestone water fountain having a semi-circular arch-headed niche with a projecting bowl. Existing original bronze call-buttons and floor position indicators are found at the Fourteenth Street elevator lobby.

Each C Street elevator lobby has two sets of elevators, which were originally identical to those found in the headhouse elevator lobbies.

All bronze elevator doors have since been replaced with painted metal doors and frames except in wings 1 and 2 where only the original pink

Tennessee marble hoistway surrounds remain. Material treatments in the elevator lobbies are similar to the adjoining wing corridor with few exceptions-paired 6"xl2" red quarry tile floors laid in a random geometric pattern, 48" tall pink Tennessee marble wainscot, telephone alcoves, and eight panel oak office doors having pink Tennessee marble surrounds.

Existing Conditions

The first floor elevator lobbies are in good condition and close to their original appearance, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Marble wall bases are chipped and cracked with deteriorated grout joints in all elevator lobbies.

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• Marble walls and door surrounds at elevator entrances in all

Independence A venue first floor lobbies are heavily soiled and chipped.

• Painted metal door surrounds at elevator entrances in all C Street first floor lobbies are damaged and/or altered.

• All elevator call buttons and floor position indicators located in first floor lobbies are not original except in the Fourteenth Street elevator lobby.

• Original lighting fixtures in all elevator lobbies have been replaced by modem ceiling-mounted fluorescent lighting.

• An appropriate facsimile of original bronze elevator doors has been installed at the handicap elevator location in Wing l headhouse first floor lobby.

• Poor facsimiles of original bronze elevator doors have been installed at Wing 3 headhouse first floor location.

• Non-original flush bronze elevator doors have been installed in headhouse first floor lobbies at Wings 2, 4, and 6.

• Existing original bronze elevator doors, call buttons and associated hardware in Fourteenth Street elevator lobby are soiled.

• Original bronze wall plaques in Fourteenth Street elevator lobby have been removed.

• Suspended acoustical tile ceilings have concealed Fourteenth Street and all C Street elevator lobby ceilings.

• Painted metal and unpainted stainless steel elevator doors at all first floor tailhouse wing locations are not original.

• A plastic laminate cabinet in C Street lobby alcove at Wing 5 is not original.

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5. Public Elevator Cabs

a. Description b.

In each headhouse elevator lobby there are three elevator cabs, and -in each tailhouse lobby there are two elevator cabs ( one of which has freight capacity at Wings 3, 5, and 7). Originally, all public elevator cabs consisted of a tan vinyl tile floor, surrounded by a wide border of grayish-tan vinyl tile and a polished bronze wall base. Cab walls were divided into seven flush full-length wood panels made of five-ply

American Walnut veneer. Each panel had a geometric design of lighter inlaid wood composed of three full-length concentric rectangles

(the center rectangle being connected to the middle rectangle by a square at each comer). At the top of each panel were two bronze pad hooks. Above the panels was a simple wood band molding, located beneath nine pierced bronze air grilles centered over each panel and the cab door. A wood cavetto cornice terminated the cab walls.

Interior cab doors and ceilings were also made of five-ply American

Walnut veneer. Cab hardware and trim was polished bronze, including a center mounted incandescent light with an opalescent glass dome and bronze trim ring.

Elevator No. 2 is the only car with most of its original interior finishes surviving. Cabs located in the head.house elevator lobbies of Wings 1, 4, and 7 were recently refurbished using replicated original interior finish treatments. All remaining elevator cabs have modern plastic laminate interior finishes.

Existing Conditions

The public elevator cabs are m good working condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

HISTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT 10

II. SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

• Appropriate facsimiles (including replica lighting fixtures) have replaced original elevator cab interiors at Wings 1, 4, and 7 headhouse locations.

• Floor mats cover vinyl floor tile in all elevator cabs.

• Bronze hardware and associated cab metal finishes at Wing 1, 4, and 7 headhouse locations are damaged, missing, or tarnished.

• Two elevator cabs at central Wing 7 location (Fourteenth Street

Lobby) have been removed.

• Plastic laminate interior finishes m all Wings 2, 3, 5, and 6 headhouse cabs, as well as at all south wing tailhouse cabs, are heavily soiled and chipped.

6. Auditorium and Lobby

a. Description

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Auditorium is located between

Wings 5 and 6 in Court 5. It consists of three principal elements: an anteroom or lobby, the auditorium with its stage area, and the sound studio behind the stage. The lobby is rectangular in shape with three open bays leading into the headhouse corridor on its north end.

Carpeting covers the original red quarry tile floor, the walls are clad in polished Kasota Yellow limestone, and the ceiling consists of three painted plaster segmental vaults that are divided by paneled plaster beams. Two sets of white oak double-leafed doors, each with a small glazed diamond-shaped light, open from the south wall of the lobby into the auditorium. Centered on the east and west walls is a large rectangular niche which has been filled by large closets. Light fo .. 'tUres, as well as three sets of collapsible bronze gates, original to the lobby have not been identified.

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IL SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT

The Auditorium is a large rectangular space with cork tile flooring covered by carpeting, gradually sloping downward to the stage. The walls are wainscoted and paneled in white oak, the base is Verde

Antique marble, and the upper walls and ceiling are of plaster. Upper wall areas were originally covered by I2"x12" acoustical tile, but are now covered by large fabric-wrapped acoustical panels. The ceiling is a low segmental vault that spans perpendicular to the auditorium entrance, having coffers of acoustical plaster containing large bas relief rosettes, or vents with decorative rosette deflectors. Original lighting in the auditorium was comprised solely of an elongated trough light found recessed into the top of the wood wainscot along the east and west walls. Large rectangular ceiling-mounted florescent lights now supplement this lighting. Seating is arranged in three sections, serviced by two north-south aisles. While the auditorium originally consisted of fixed wood and metal folding seats, they have since been replaced by modem fixed upholstered folding seats. Flanking the stage are two sets of wood double-leafed doors which lead into the sound studio located behind the stage area.

The sound studio area is a utilitarian space that was originally associated with the Department's large motion picture section. These spaces are simply treated without any elaboration.

b. Existing Condition

The auditorium, lobby and sound studio are in fair condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Carpeting covers original tiled floors in lobby.

• Lobby wall niches are filled with built-in wood closets.

• Vinyl covering has been applied to plaster ceiling vaults in lobby.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem ceiling mounted fluorescent lighting.

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION REPORT 12

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• Original trough lighting in auditoriwn has been supplemented by modern ceiling-mounted fluorescent lighting.

• Three sets of collapsible bronze gates at lobby area have been removed.

• Auditorium entrance door locks are not original.

• Carpeting covers original cork tile in auditorium.

• Non-original carpeted platform has been installed in auditorium.

• Upholstery has been installed on original wood and painted metal seating.

• White oak wainscot finish in auditoriwn has darkened or has been stained a dark color, and exhibits heavy soiling at low areas near seating.

• Modem sound-absorbing acoustical fabric panels have been installed on upper walls of auditorium in lieu of perforated tile.

• Exposed sprinkler system has been installed in backstage dressing rooms, toilets, etc.

• Marble wainscoting in dressing room toilets is damaged.

• Original wall sconces in backstage dressing rooms, toilets, etc. are missing.

7. First Floor Public Corridors

a. Description

The first floor consists of a series of eight double-loaded corridors flanked by inter-communicating spaces intended interchangeably for office or laboratory use. One long main corridor extends along an east-west axis and is associated with Independence A venue (headhouse corridot). Seven shorter connecting corridors, along a north-south axis, are each terminated by their C Street elevator lobbies. At each end of the north-south wings are elevators, stairs, toilet rooms, oval porcelain wall-mounted drinking fountains, telephone booths, and

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electrical closets. Materials in the corridors include red quarry tile flooring laid within pink Tennessee marble borders and matching marble wall bases. Walls and ceilings are of plaster and simply treated. Original lighting consisted of simple ball-globe surface mounted fixtures with an unadorned brass base, centered in alternating bays of the corridor ceiling. The original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting, mounted on an acoustical ceiling suspended below the original plaster. Office doors are of oak, with one large light of obscure glass above two small recessed wooden panels. The lower panels on all office doors have been replaced by modem metal louvers. Toilet room doors are similar, yet have only one large thin metal louver below the door light of obscured glass.

Mechanical closet doors found throughout the wing corridor are also oak, having five small recessed wooden panels. Above most office doors is a working single or triple transom glazed in clear glass set above a recessed paneled transom bar. Door hardware consists of butt hinges and elliptical bronze knobs with rectangular escutcheon plates of the same material.

b. Existing Condition

The first floor public corridors are in good condition and close to their original appearance, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Escalators connecting the sub-basement and first floor have been installed. Although the original corridor configuration at first floor level was maintained, some doors and partitions enclosing original offices were removed.

• Marble wall bases are chipped and cracked with deteriorated grout joints.

• Finish of wood doors and associated elements is deteriorating.

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• Metal louvers have replaced original wooden panels in office doors.

• Original wood/glass transoms have been replaced at numerous locations by solid wood panels, some with exposed fans for ventilation.

• Original door hardware has been replaced at numerous locations by contemporary hardware.

• Original obscure glass in office doors bas been replaced with varying glass types at numerous locations.

• Original gold-leafed room numbers on doors have been removed at some locations.

• Modern wall-moUhted room s1gnage, bulletin boards, display cases, etc. have been installed.

• Suspended acoustical tile ceiling have concealed corridor ceilings.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting.

• Various non-original wall-hung vitreous and stainless steel drinking fountains have been installed.

8. First Floor Public Toilet Rooms

a. Description

Clustered at the ends of each north-south wing are the public toilet rooms. Floors are composed of rectangular quarry tile of varied sizes and colors ranging from red, to brown, to buff, to tan. However, toilet rooms located in Wings 4 and 5 (the initial phase of original construction) have white terrazzo flooring. Pink Tennessee marble of varying types is used for wall wainscoting as well as stall partitions in all toilet rooms. Upper walls and ceilings are flat plaster. Room and stall doors are clear stained oak. Plumbing fixtures are white vitreous porcelain, including toilets, urinals, and peg-leg pedestal sinks, of

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which there are two types original to the building design. Fixtures are fitted with white metal-plated hardware to match stall partition supports. Original lighting consisted of white globular light fixtures in a "schoolhouse" design.

Existing Conditions

The first floor toilet rooms are in good condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Quarry floor tile and/or terrazzo flooring and marble cove base are damaged� altered or missing at some locations.

• Marble wainscoting and stall partitions are heavily soiled and chipped.

• Marble urinal partitions have been replaced by metal screens.

• Several original pedestal sinks, urinals and toilets have been replaced by fixtures of similar design, except some fixtures are wall moW1ted and more angular in detail.

• Existing plumbing fixture hardware is damaged, missing� or altered.

• Paint on upper wall areas is blistering and peeling.

• Suspended acoustical tile ceiling have concealed original flat plaster ceilings.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting.

• Handicap stalls have been incorporated in bathroom layout, with some reconstruction of stall enclosures.

• Metal finish of stall partition supports are soiled and deteriorated.

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C. Architectural Description and Existing Conditions -- Rehabilitation Areas

1. Second through Sixth Floor Typical Elevator Lobbies

a. Description b.

The second through sixth floor typical elevator lobbies vary in size similar to the first floor, but generally maintain the same overall rectangular shape. In the headhouse elevator lobbies there are three elevators, and in the tailhouse lobbies there are two elevators ( one of which has freight capacity at Wings 3, 5, and 7). There were also two elevators on all floors centrally located in Wing 7. These elevator cabs have since been removed and the shafts abandoned. Material treatments at the elevator lobbies are similar to those found in the building's first floor corridors.

All metal elevator doors and trim were originally faux-painted to simulate the wood graining of the typical office corridor doors. They have since been re-painted dark brown. The centrally located pair of elevator doors on each floor in Wing 7 has retained its original faux painted finish. Most elevator doors have original bronze hall lanterns, while modem floor position indicators have replaced all other signal equipment. Existing original equipment on the upper floors is found only at the central abandoned elevator locations in Wing 7.

Exist,ing Condition

Typical elevator lobbies on upper floors are in good condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Metal elevator doors and trim at most locations have been repainted.

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• Modem call buttons and floor position indicators have been installed in lobbies at all upper floor locations, except at all central abandoned elevator locations in Wing 7.

• Metal hoistway frames and surrounds at most elevator entrances have been replaced.

2. Second through Sn1b Floor Public Corridors

a. Description

The second through sixth floors consist of a series of eight double loaded corridors flanked by inter-communicating spaces, as previously described for the first floor. Materials and decorative treatments similar to those at level 1 are employed. The second floor corridor plan differs from that of the first floor only in that the tailhouse corridor (fronting C Street) is not continuous from Wing 1 through

Wing 7, and no special spaces occur at this floor.

The third floor corridors are identical in all respects to those on the second floor except for two pedestrian bridges linking the

Administration Building to the north. The bridges occur at Wings 2 and 6, and are treated as extensions of the corridors. These spaces have quany tile floors set within marble borders, and plaster walls with marble bases. A drop ceiling conceals original plaster ceilings and skylights. Flush-mounted wall lights currently provide lighting in the bridges. Radiators are recessed within wall pockets and concealed by bronze grilles, similar to those found in the building entrance vestibules.

The fourth and fifth floor corridors are analogous in all aspects to the second floor.

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The sixth floor varies slightly from the typical floor plan in terms of its spatial configuration and design detailing. With the exception of Wing

6, the overall corridor pattern is repeated. However, most adjoining office and laboratory spaces are narrower as a result of the setback at the street and at selected court elevations. Other distinctions include office doors without a triple transom arrangement and a lower corridor ceiling. Wing 6 originally contained a large cafeteria, which spanned the full width of the tailhouse, displacing the typical centralized corridor. The cafeteria has been demolished and the space converted to office use.

b. Existing Condition

The second through sixth floor public corridors are in good condition and close to their original appearance, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Original Wing 6 cafeteria area has been demolished.

• Quarry floor tiles are chipped and cracked with deteriorated grout joints.

• Finish on wood doors and associated elements is deteriorating.

• Metal louvers have replaced original wooden panels in office doors.

• Original transom glazing has been replaced at nwnerous locations by solid wood panels, some with exposed fans for ventilation.

• Original door hardware has been replaced at nwnerous locations by contemporary hardware.

• Original obscure glass in office doors has been replaced with varying glass types at nwnerous locations.

• Original gold-leafed room nwnbers on doors have been removed at some locations.

• Non-original wall-mounted room signage, bulletin boards, display cases, etc. have been installed.

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• Suspended acoustical tiles conceal beamed plaster corridor ceilings.

• Plaster drop ceilings conceal pedestrian bridge skylights.

• Mechanical and electrical systems have been exposed in some sixth floor corridors.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting.

• Various non-original wall-hung vitreous and stainless steel drinking fountains have been installed.

First through Sixth Floor Typical Offices

a. Description

Office/laboratory spaces remain unifonnly 19' -11" in depth ( distance between corridor and outer wall) as originally designed. The length of these spaces varies. Typically, offices are between 26' and 40' in length, with some as short as 13' and as long as 66'. Length was usually determined by space requirements and the location of structural piers which occur on 9'-7", 10"-4", 13', and 14' centers. To provide additional flexibility in terms of space utilization, many offices were created with the use of interior metal partitions. The partitions were designed to accommodate relocation and were fitted with doors aligned in enfilade. Some plaster walls have communicating five panel birch doors. Corridor doors, however, were fixed and are located at the center point of each structural bay.

Finishes for both offices and laboratory spaces were identical, with their functional differences expressed only in the choice of furnishings and related equipment. Flooring consisted of linoleum tile in some spaces, and cork tile in others. Walls and ceilings were of plaster, with painted metal induction units located directly under windows. Two

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b.

simple ceiling-mounted "schoolhouse'' type fixtures provided general office lighting with an unadorned brass base centered on each office window bay.

Existing Condition

Typical of-fices are generally in fair condition, with the exception of the following alterations and extreme wear conditions:

• Carpeting has been installed over original linolewn or cork flooring.

• Original metal office partitions are damaged, missing, or altered.

• Non-original office partitions of varying construction have been installed at many locations.

• Wood door surrounds at corridor office doors are missing or altered.

• Paint on upper wall areas exhibits blistering and peeling.

• Suspended acoustical tiles conceal original plaster ceilings.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting.

Second through Sixth Floor Public Toilet Rooms

a. Description

The public toilet rooms on the second through sixth floors are stacked and correspond to the first floor locations. Material and decorative treatments of both public toilet room types (men's and women's) are identical to those found on the first floor typical wing location, except that white terrazzo floors are found only in Wing 4 and 5 toilet room$, the initial phase of construction.

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b. Existing Condition

The second through si>.1h floor public toilet rooms are in good condition, with the exception of nonnal wear and the following alterations:

• Quarry floor tile and marble cove base is damaged, altered or missing.

• Marble wainscoting and stall partitions are heavily soiled and chipped.

• Marble urinal partitions have been replaced by metal screens.

• Several original pedestal sinks, urinals and toilets have been replaced by fixtures of similar design, except some fixtures are wall mounted and more angular in detail.

• Plwnbing fixture hardware is damaged, missing, or altered.

• Paint on upper wall areas is blistering and peeling.

• Suspended acoustical tiles conceal original plaster ceilings.

• Original lighting fixtures have been replaced by modem fluorescent lighting.

• Handicap stalls have been incorporated in toilet room layouts, with some reconfiguration of stall enclosures.

• Metal finish of stall partition supports are soiled and deteriorating.

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ESERVATION DESIGN ISSUES

A. Recommendations -- Restoration Areas

The first floor serves as the principal point of entry and is the most elaborately treated of the building's six primary floors. Therefore, restoration and future preservation of its public spaces require that inappropriate alterations be eliminated, original building fabric repaired and stabilized, and new systems inserted with a minimum of disturbance to existing materials.

1. General Recommendations

The following recommendations specify work requirements for typical cleaning, repair and maintenance of historic materials that are present throughout restoration areas. General recommendations are as follows:

a. Floors:

b.

• Clean all built-up dirt, wax, and staining from tile and marble floors and marble bases.

• Repair chipped and cracked marble elements.

• Regrout floor and base joints.

• Replace all existing floor mats with new mats that will compliment original finish treatments.

• Remove non-skid strips at stair treads and replace with new to match color of existing marble.

Walls:

• Clean built-up dirt, wax, and staining from all marble surfaces.

• Repair chipped and cracked marble elements to match original.

• Regrout deteriorated marble joints.

• Remove all surface mounted wire molds, electrical conduits, etc.

• Repair damaged plaster wall areas.

• Scrape and sand sections of peeling paint. Repaint plaster walls to match historical paint color scheme.

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• Clean, refinish, and apply clear protective coating on all original bronze radiator grilles, bulletin boards, and signage.

c. Ceilings:

• Remove damaged plaster and re-plaster to match the surrounding surfaces in color, texture, and detail.

• Scrape and sand sections of peeling paint. Repaint plaster ceilings based on historical paint color scheme.

Doors and Windows:

• Repair and refinish original oak doors and frames, and bronze hardware. Clean original wood and leaded glass transoms.

• Replace existing elliptical door knobs with custom designed bronze levers as requested by USDA for ADA compliance.

• Replace damaged, altered, or missing door stops, closers and associated hardware with new hardware to match original.

• Remove metal louvers and replace wood panels in office doors.

e. Furnishings:

• Remove all non-original ceiling lighting fixtures and replace with new fixtures that are historically appropriate to the period and style of the building, based on original designs where known.

• Remove all non-original wall-mounted signage and install new signs that will compliment original finish treatments or match original designs.

• Repair or replace damaged, missing, or altered original bronze directional signage to match original.

• Remove all non-original wall-mounted display cases, bulletin boards, etc. and replace with new equipment that will compliment original finish treatments.

• Remove non-original benches, planters, etc. and replace with new furnishings that will compliment original finish treatments.

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2. Independence Avenue Entrances, Vestibules, and Lobbies

Seven entrances face Independence A venue and function as primary building access points for employees as well as the general public. These entrances open up and introduce light into the headhouse corridor. The change in finishes and material at these junctions interrupts the prevailing treatment of the corridor and lends an element of variety that is particularly important given its two block length.

Specific recommendations for the preservation and protection of historic materials in these areas are as follows:

a. Floors:

b.

C.

d.

• Replace damaged, altered or missing glazed floor tile at Wing 4 vestibule.

• Remove red quarry tile and replace with glazed floor tile to match original design intent at Wing 6 vestibule.

Walls:

• Repair damaged plaster wall areas in vestibules and entrance lobbies.

Ceilings:

• Remove existing non-original sprinkler system. Replace with fully concealed system.

Doors and Windows:

• Clean and maintain existing dark bronze-anodized aluminum doors at all street entrances.

• Replace missing weatherstripping on aluminum doors at all street entrances.

• Replace damaged, missing or altered exterior door pulls at all street entrances.

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• Clean and maintain glass-mounted emergency exit signage at vestibule doors.

• Replace flush bronze elevator hoistway doors in lobbies at Wings

2, 4, and 6 with new ornamental paneled bronze doors to match original design.

Furnishings:

• Repair damaged or altered bronze directional signage to match original.

• Relocate wall-mounted telephones and fire extinguishers to new locations that will be sensitive to original finish treatments.

• Remove all non-original vestibule and lobby lighting fixtures and replace with new fixtures that are historically appropriate to the period and style of the building. Replicated lobby light fixtures may need to be supplemented to meet current criteria for lighting levels in public areas, based on the knowledge of the building's original lobby lighting design.

• Remove paint from original aluminum handrails in· vestibules and exposed radiators in lobbies; repaint radiators.

• Remove wall-mounted light fixtures at Wing 1 handicap entrance and at all security desk locations. Provide new lighting appropriate to the historic character of the lobby spaces.

• Refinish existing wood security desks in lobbies and install task lighting at each station. A more complementary design of the desks may be considered for aesthetic purposes. The massing, size, scale and wood finish of the new desks should not detract from the historic integrity of the space.

• Replace plastic laminate elevator paneling at Wings 3, 5, and 7 to match original inlaid wood and bronze elevator panels.

• Replace damaged, missing and altered bronze elevator call buttons and associated hardware with new to match original.

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2. Fourteenth Street Entrance and Lobby

The Fourteenth Street entrance was originally designed to function as the building's principal, ceremonial enttance. However, due to changes in patterns of circulation on the site and internal space utilization, it is not currently being used. Because of its initial purpose and its refined finishes and materials, the entrance remains a vital part of the building's historic integrity.

Specific recommendations for the preservation and protection of historic materials in this area are.as follows:

a.

b.

C.

Floors:

• Replace the damaged glazed floor tile with new tile to match original in size, color, and thickness.

• Repair broken or chipped Travertine stair treads.

Walls:

• Replace missing wall plaques at original location or replace marble at same location with marble to match surrounding area.

• Remove non-original wall-mounted signage; install new signage to compliment original finish treatments.

• Clean heavily soiled yellow Kasota limestone walls in lobby.

• Replace existing glass and aluminum partition at lobby handicap lift with new partition that will complement original finish treatments.

Ceilings:

• Remove non-original acoustical ceiling system in lobby area.

Expose and repair existing plaster beamed ceiling beyond.

• Remove damaged plaster in vestibule area and replaster to match the surrounding surfaces in color, texture and detail.

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3.

d. Doors and Windows:

• Replace missing bronze door pulls on interior side of original bronze and glass entrance doors. Repair, clean and maintain doors, transoms, and frames and existing bronze hardware.

e. Furnishings:

• Remove all non-original vestibule and lobby light fixtures and replace with new fixtures that are historically appropriate to the period and style of the building. Replicated light fixtures may need to be supplemented to meet current criteria for lighting levels in public areas, based on lmowledge of the building's original lobby lighting design.

• Repair, clean and maintain existing motorized handicap lift in vestibule.

• Repair damaged original bronze directional signage.

• Repair, clean and maintain existing original drinking fountain.

C Street Entrances and Vestibules

There are seven entrances facing south toward C Street which serve as secondary building access points for employees and the general public.

However, the typical floor pattern of the continuous perimeter loop corridor is interrupted on this fa9ade by the insertion of six vehicular ramps between the entrances. The pedestrian entrances provide an impression of light and change in material at typical corridor junctions much as their Independence A venue counterparts do, although they treated less decoratively. Because of these characteristics, C Street entrances and vestibules are viewed as being equally important.

Specific recommendations for the preservation and protection of historic materials in these areas are as follows:

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ill. PRESERVATION DESIGN ISSUES

4.

a.

b.

C.

Floors:

• Clean and maintain existing red quarry tile floor at lobby entrances.

Walls:

• Replace inappropriate repairs at marble wainscoting with new marble to match original in color, texture and finish.

Ceilings:

• Remove non-original acoustical ceiling systems m lobbies.

Expose and repair original plaster ceilings beyond.

d. Doors and Windows:

• Replace missing original bronze vestibule door pull at Wing 6.

• Remove inappropriate panel replacements and repairs to eight panel oak office doors in lobbies. Provide new wood panels to match original.

e. Furnishings:

• Remove wall-mounted light fixtures at all security desk locations.

• Refinish existing wood security desks in lobbies and install task lighting at each station. A more complementary redesign of the desks may be considered for aesthetic purposes. The new design shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale and wood finish of the existing desks so as not to impair the historic integrity of the building.

• Remove existing plastic laminate cabinet assembly in lobby alcove at Wing 5, and replace with new cabinet that will compliment original finish treatments.

Auditorium and Lobby

Apart from the public building lobbies, the auditorium is the only public interior space dating from the original construction that exhibits a high degree

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of finish and surface detail. Its wood paneling and plaster ornament are particularly unique, and the room displays a sense of refinement that contrasts with the more utilitarian character of the other interior spaces. The integration of modem audio-visual systems, flexible lighting, and acoustical treatments will require careful design in order to maintain the character of the space. If possible, original lighting concepts should be replicated, with modem lamping and controls. Supplementary lighting may still be required, and must be designed to complement the original design. Alterations for handicap accessibility should be accomplished so as to minimize their impact on the original plan and detail of the space.

Specific recommendations for the preservation and the protection of historic materials in these areas are as follows:

a. Floors:

• Remove existing carpeting and expose quarry tile floor in lobby area. Clean and repair built-up dirt� wax, and staining from quarry tile floor, marble borders, and marble bases.

• Regrout and repaint existing marble wall bases.

• Remove and replace existing auditorium carpeting. (Note: It is understood that the fire resistance classification of the original cork flooring which remains under carpeting will not meet life-safety requirements).

• Refinish wood stage area in auditorium. Provide removable protective rubber floor padding for special production purposes.

• Clean and maintain existing quarry tile floor in dressing room toilets.

b. Walls:

• Repair the chipped and cracked marble elements in lobby and backstage dressing room toilets to match original.

• Regrout all deteriorated marble joints in lobby and auditorium.

• Remove all non-original wall-mounted signage and install new that will compliment original finish treatments.

UN…