Department of Labor Building
Encyclopedia
The Department of Labor Building, also known as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (West Building), is an historic office building, located at 14th Street
, and Constitution Avenue
, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Federal Triangle
.
The building was constructed as part of the Federal Triangle
development.
Although plans to redevelop the slum
known as "Murder Bay" had existed for decades, Congress did not fund the purchase of land or construction of buildings in the area until 1926.
In July 1926, the government proposed building a Department of Labor Building between 13th and 14th Streets NW, on the north side of B Street NW (now Constitution Avenue NW).
In March 1927, the government proposed adding a second building to the east (between 12th and 13th Streets NW) for "Independent Offices" (the building's purpose was later changed to be the headquarters of the Interstate Commerce Commission
, or ICC). Design work proceeded slowly.
In April 1930, President
Herbert Hoover
proposed building a $2 million "Departmental Auditorium" to connect the Labor and ICC buildings.
President Hoover laid the cornerstones for the Labor/ICC building on December 15, 1932.
Freemasons
trained in masonry
assisted the President in laying the cornerstones.
Hoover personally oversaw the dedication of the cornerstone at the Labor end of the building.
His words were broadcast over loudspeaker to the workers at the ICC end of the structure, who placed the ICC cornerstone simultaneously at the President's instruction (becoming the first time in Washington history that a single person dedicated two cornerstones at the same time).
William Green
, President of the American Federation of Labor
(AFL), attended the laying of the cornerstone for the Labor building.
The building was designated by Congress as a contributing structure to the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
in 1966, and it was subsequently listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
14th Street
14th Street may refer to several locations in the United States:*14th Street , New York City*14th Street Northwest and Southwest *Broad Street *14th Street Bridge *14th Street...
, and Constitution Avenue
Constitution Avenue
In Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Federal Triangle
Federal Triangle
The Federal Triangle is a triangular area in Washington, D.C. formed by 15th Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and E Street NW. Federal Triangle is occupied by 10 large city and federal office buildings, all of which are part of the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic...
.
History
Arthur Brown, Jr. designed the building between 1928 and 1931, and construction was completed in 1934.The building was constructed as part of the Federal Triangle
Federal Triangle
The Federal Triangle is a triangular area in Washington, D.C. formed by 15th Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and E Street NW. Federal Triangle is occupied by 10 large city and federal office buildings, all of which are part of the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic...
development.
Although plans to redevelop the slum
Slum
A slum, as defined by United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security. According to the United Nations, the percentage of urban dwellers living in slums decreased from 47 percent to 37 percent in the...
known as "Murder Bay" had existed for decades, Congress did not fund the purchase of land or construction of buildings in the area until 1926.
In July 1926, the government proposed building a Department of Labor Building between 13th and 14th Streets NW, on the north side of B Street NW (now Constitution Avenue NW).
In March 1927, the government proposed adding a second building to the east (between 12th and 13th Streets NW) for "Independent Offices" (the building's purpose was later changed to be the headquarters of the Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
, or ICC). Design work proceeded slowly.
In April 1930, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
proposed building a $2 million "Departmental Auditorium" to connect the Labor and ICC buildings.
President Hoover laid the cornerstones for the Labor/ICC building on December 15, 1932.
Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
trained in masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
assisted the President in laying the cornerstones.
Hoover personally oversaw the dedication of the cornerstone at the Labor end of the building.
His words were broadcast over loudspeaker to the workers at the ICC end of the structure, who placed the ICC cornerstone simultaneously at the President's instruction (becoming the first time in Washington history that a single person dedicated two cornerstones at the same time).
William Green
William Green (labor leader)
William Green was an American trade union leader. Green is best remembered for serving as the President of the American Federation of Labor from 1924 to 1952.-Early years:...
, President of the American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
(AFL), attended the laying of the cornerstone for the Labor building.
The building was designated by Congress as a contributing structure to the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in the city of Washington, D.C. Established on September 30, 1965, the site is roughly bounded by Constitution Avenue, 15th Street NW, F Street NW, and 3rd Street NW...
in 1966, and it was subsequently listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
External links
- wikimapia
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3643241562/