trave and pediment supported on consoles; two shields are also affixed on the wall spaces in between this window and those on either side of it. It must be confessed, however, that although it might have appeared necessary for the façade above the doorway to take some cognisance of that feature, the device chosen to attain this end is somewhat unhappy, inasmuch as the main pattern of the windows in the central horizontal division of the façade in no way prepares us for the elaboration of one particular window opening exactly the same size as the remainder. In fact, if in imagination we do away with this balcony and pediment, the façade appears complete without it. This is as much as to say that the feature is an afterthought, and was not prepared for in the original conception of the design. This difficulty, however, is always present when the entrance to a great building assumes the form of a single narrow opening cutting the basement in two, and there seems no way out of it except to place the entrances at the sides of the building, emphasising that portion of the facade immediately above them, or else widening the entrance feature so that it extends over
a considerable part of the total width of the basement storey. The side elevation, which is also here reproduced, shows the set back of the attic, and is especially to be commended, inasmuch as the blank wall is decorated by a panel treatment, and has a graceful terminal in the form of a shaped parapet surmounting a flat cornice with shield. Presumably, this façade will one day be hidden by an adjacent building, but until this event takes place the Ship Canal Company’s block will present a decorous exterior towards this side. Of the plan, little need be said except that it is an example of good arrangement of office rooms, well lit and with excellent communications. The building is of entirely fire-proof construction, the walls up to the ground floor level being ferro-concrete. Above this level the main elevations are in Portland stone, and the elevations to the areas in terra-cotta. Two high-speed passenger lifts are by Waygood-Otis; the central heating is low-pressure hot water; vacuum cleaning plant is installed. The main entrance doors are in bronze; the hall is in marble; while the staircase is of marble terrazzo with tiled walls and bronze balustrade, and the landings are finished in mahogany SHIP CANAL HOUSE, KING STREET, MANCHESTER.
Harry S. Fairhurst, F. R. I. B. A., Architect.
a considerable part of the total width of the basement storey. The side elevation, which is also here reproduced, shows the set back of the attic, and is especially to be commended, inasmuch as the blank wall is decorated by a panel treatment, and has a graceful terminal in the form of a shaped parapet surmounting a flat cornice with shield. Presumably, this façade will one day be hidden by an adjacent building, but until this event takes place the Ship Canal Company’s block will present a decorous exterior towards this side. Of the plan, little need be said except that it is an example of good arrangement of office rooms, well lit and with excellent communications. The building is of entirely fire-proof construction, the walls up to the ground floor level being ferro-concrete. Above this level the main elevations are in Portland stone, and the elevations to the areas in terra-cotta. Two high-speed passenger lifts are by Waygood-Otis; the central heating is low-pressure hot water; vacuum cleaning plant is installed. The main entrance doors are in bronze; the hall is in marble; while the staircase is of marble terrazzo with tiled walls and bronze balustrade, and the landings are finished in mahogany SHIP CANAL HOUSE, KING STREET, MANCHESTER.
Harry S. Fairhurst, F. R. I. B. A., Architect.