OFFICE BUILDING, 1031 CHESTNUT ST., Albert W. Dilks, Architect - The Brickbuilder - Sept 1895

OFFICE BUILDING,  1031 CHESTNUT ST., PHILADELPHIA.

Albert W. Dilks, Architect.

P H I L A D E LP H I A . 

—-A building thoroughly adapted to present uses and rivaling in beauty and utility some of its much more extensive competitors is the one recently finished at 1031 and 1033 Chestnut Street,  Architect Albert W. Dilks; it shows more than ordinary study in the planning of the eight floors composing the building, and has an

abundance of light and air.

It is constructed with a steel frame between extra heavy party walls, care being taken to thoroughly protect every part of the frame from fire and rust. The stories are very high, probably higher than necessary for the ordinary uses to which they will be put, but were made so in order that there might be freer light and ventilation. Aside from the stairways, which are of iron with aluminum finish, the front on Chestnut Street is the only place upon which any ornamentation could be attempted, and here there has been a combination of stone, brick, and terracotta very neatly and carefully designed and executed. 

The detail especially is better than the usual work of this class, and in the building looks very much more interesting than in our sketch, the position of the building being such that it is almost impossible to get a good photograph of the front at present.

A very noticeable feature is the large vestibule or entrance to the building, which is faced from floor to ceiling with faience in specially designed pattern. The novelty of the material attracts the attention of the passing public, and is quite favorably commented upon. It was furnished by the Grueby Faience Company, of Boston, Mass, and is of the most extensive and finest of their executions which we have seen.

The brick and terra-cotta is from the New York Architectural Terra—cotta Company, while the terra-cotta arches and blocks are from the Staten Island Terra-cotta Company. The elevators are of very high speed, and were erected by the Stokes & Parrish Company. The steel work was made by the Phoenix Iron Company.

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