Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/676

 550 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [Mar., DESCRIPTIONS. THE NEW BANKING OFFICE OF "THE PHILADELPHIA SAVING FUND SOCIETY." THIS edifice is an example of the fast developing tendency to build for the future as well as for the present, not only with respect to commodious- ness and convenience, but also to dura- bility. Institutions of this kind have, until recently, been content to occupy buildings of ordinary construction, but various causes have combined to induce some of them to provide better and more substantial facilities for business. Foremost in Philadelphia, if not in the country, in taking care of the savings of the poor, stands "The Phila- delphia Saving Fund Society." Found- ed in 1816, and managed by a succes- sion of our best citizens, it has con- tinued to grow in strength and useful- ness, until the present building has been found insufficient for the accommodation of the business, which, attracted by the solid character and reputation of the Society, sought the way to its doors. To enlarge its capabilities for doing good — the Managers receive no emolu- ment whatever for their services — this Society, in the latter part of the year 1865, determined on the erection of a new and more commodious build- ing than that which they now occupy. Having purchased a suitable location, at the southwest corner of Walnut street and West Washington Square, they pro- ceeded to procure plans and estimates for their new structure. Here we may pause to commend the sagacity^ and benevolence of this body of men in choosing a site, for it is not too much to say, that in the whole city another such could not be found. Con- venient to the great business centre, with the laroe front on one of the finest Squares in the city, nothing could be better suited to the purposes of business and to the health and comfort of the employes of the institution. Especially also is it favorable for the display of the architecture of the building. Too fre- quently our street views are so cramped, that the design of the architect, be it good or bad, is distorted by the unfa- vorable lines of vision. Here, owing to the open Square, it is otherwise The whole structure can be embraced in a glance, and an object which hi a narrow and crowded street would only be no- ticed as a thing of utility, becomes, largely owing to the circumstance of location, an ornament to the city. The design adopted as the most suit- able to meet the several requirements of the Society, was prepared by Addison Hutton, Esq., and under his supervision the building has been enclosed during the past season. The front on Walnut street is 51 feet 6 inches, and on Washington Square, 130 feet, in length, leaving 40 feet of clear space in the rear. To those of our readers who are familiar with the material of which these fronts are built — Quincy Granite — we need scarce- ly state, that the building is more hand- some than the drawing would lead one to expect. The strongly-marked ex- pression of stability is in harrnony with the character of the institution. Beyond plain lines of moulding, and the crown- ing balustrade, it may be said to be de- void of ornament, the architect having relied, for his effects, mainly on the dis- tribution and contrast of light and shade, and the intrinsic beauty of the material. But the most satisfactory of all its points is, that it is constructed with such imperishable and indestructible mate- rials. Granite, brick and iron form the essentials of the structure, no pains or