188 Reports on Special Researches 



laboratories in Washington, was employed by the Institution as architect. The general 

 conditions set for the building were structural strength and solidity, greatest possible free- 

 dom from vibration effects, and maximum efficiency and utility for the purposes intended. 

 Accordingly special care was bestowed by Mr. Wood on the numerous drawings required 

 and in the formulation of the specifications. Messrs. Mechlin and Starr, of Washington, 

 D. C, were employed by him to look after the engineering details. As the result of the 

 cooperative work between the Department and the architect, a building of substantial con- 

 struction and pleasing appearance, fulfilling adequately the varied and rigid requirements, 

 has been obtained at a minimum cost. 



On the basis of satisfactory competitive bids received, a contract was immediately 

 entered into, on April 29, 1913, with the lowest bidder, the Davis Construction Company, 

 of Washington, D. C. The work of construction was begun early in May 1913, and the 

 building was completed, and ready for occupancy, on February 14, 1914. The 7iet cost, 

 including the heating, plumbing, and electrical work, and architect's fees, but not including 

 any of the equipment, was in round numbers $68,000. The cost per unit volume was 

 accordingly about 24 cents per cubic foot. We take this occasion to express our obligation 

 both to the architect and to the contracting finn for the very satisfactory manner in which 

 the tasks intrusted to them were executed. Throughout the erection of the building, 

 Mr. J. A. Fleming represented the Carnegie Institution of Washington and the Department 

 of Terrestrial Magnetism as supervisor of construction. 



The style of architecture is on the lines of the Italian Renaissance. Facing the south- 

 west, the building commands a beautiful view of the surrounding country, across a drive- 

 way leading to the National Rock Creek Park, and is said to present an appearance of 

 strength and character in keeping with its destined use. Its outside dimensions are: 

 length, 102 feet; width, 52 feet; and height, from grade level to top of roof, 49 feet. The 

 exterior walls are of gray brick, yellow-brown in tone and of the rough wire-cut type, in 

 random distribution of four shades, with raked-out joints five-eighths inch thick sunk one- 

 half inch below the face of brick. At the grade level is a heavy granite course with six-cut 

 hammered surface and vertical tooled cutting ; at the first story and at the attic levels are 

 rubbed-finish Indiana limestone courses, with a broad band of pebble-dash stucco work 

 just above the upper limestone course and extending between the small lookouts under the 

 eaves. 



The entrance detail is worked out in Indiana limestone. (See Plate 8 and Figure 2.) 

 Four marble insets, showing the cardinal points and fleur-de-lis of a conventional compass, 

 have been placed around the window in the entrance arch. The approach to the entrance 

 from the roadway platform is by a double flight of steps of Indiana limestone, with plat- 

 forms of vitrified red brick laid on edge in pattern. The windows are of the casement tj'pe 

 opening out, each window with a transom above; the glazing is of plate glass throughout. 

 The roof, of dark-red Roman tile, has an unusually wide overhang. Two ornamental 

 iron balconies have been placed on the southwest side and afford fine views, besides adding 

 to the appearance of the building. The color scheme was carefully studied and planned 

 to give the desired expression and to prevent the monotonous appearance frequently 

 encountered in brick structures. 



The foundalion-footings are concrete, 12 inches thick and 3 feet 1 inch wide, resting 

 upon clay subsoil. A test load of 6 tons to the square foot was made and the clay base 

 found satisfactory. All walls below grade-level and the entire sub-basement floor were 

 carefully waterproofed and dry-drained. The waterproofing consists of a heavy coat of 

 pitch covered by layers of felt laid in pitch in successive layers, each lapping 6 inches. 

 Wherever pipes ]:)ass through the waterproofing, copper gaskets and flanges are soldered to 

 them and pitched into the felt. The exterior walls and the walls of the sub-basement 

 below grade, in addition to the waterproofing, are parged on the outside with five-eighths 



