166 



POWER-HOUSE DESIGN 



necessary that the building should be too ornamental. Sim- 

 plicity in design and harmony with the surroundings is very 

 desirable so as not to injure the scenic conditions, but, on the 

 other hand, attract the attention of visitors. Figs. 87 and 88 are 

 good examples of a pleasing architecture. 



A hydro-electric power-house building is generally divided 

 into two longitudinal bays, a front or main bay, containing the 

 turbines and generators, and a rear bay containing the trans- 



FIG. 88. Cohoes Hydro-Electric Power Development, Cohoes, N. Y. 



formers, switching apparatus, etc. (see Fig. 89). The two bays 

 are separated either by a wall or by a row of supporting columns, 

 and the rear bay is divided into two or more floors, and these in 

 turn into various rooms or compartments. When the space is 

 very limited, as on steep hill slopes, where the cost of excavation 

 becomes extra high, it is sometimes desirable to locate the switch- 

 and transformer-house some distance back from the generating 

 station and connect the two by a tunnel through which the cables 

 can be run. 



Basements. In modern low-head developments, where ver- 

 tical turbines are used, the substructure not only serves as foun- 

 dation for the superstructure of the building, but is really the 

 hydraulic structure, in that the intakes, turbine casings and draft 

 tubes are molded directly in the concrete. In such plants one 

 or more basements or tunnels are necessary for providing access to 

 the turbines, and for housing the various oil-pressure pumps for 

 the governors and step bearings. 



Where the floors must carry heavy loads, or when they are to 

 support the generator frames, step bearings, etc., they must be 



