John A. Wilson Building
Encyclopedia
The John A. Wilson Building, popularly known simply as the Wilson Building or the JAWB, houses the offices and chambers of the Mayor
and Council
of the District of Columbia
. Originally called the District Building, it was renamed in 1994 to commemorate former Council Chair John A. Wilson
. Completed in 1908, the building is a contributing structure to the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
.
.
A competition held for the design of the new District Building called for "classic design in the manner of the English Renaissance." The Philadelphia firm of Cope and Stewardson won the contract and construction started in 1904. The building was dedicated on July 4, 1908 by Henry MacFarland, President of the Board of Commissioners. While the building has continuously served as the municipal offices of the District's local government, the United States Department of War
housed 200 visiting servicemen there during World War II.
In 1977, a total of twelve gunmen took about 150 people hostage at three sites around Washington. During the crisis, later known as the 1977 Hanafi Siege, two of those gunmen held about a dozen hostages inside the council chambers on the fifth floor of the District Building. Then-councilman Marion Barry
was hit by a stray bullet during the commotion, which left two others dead. The press room at the Wilson Building is named in memory of Maurice Williams, a 24-year-old reporter who was killed during the attack.
In 1995, two-thirds of the Wilson Building was leased to the Federal government
for a period 20 years due to the District's inability to pay for needed repairs. However, after the United States Congress
approved funds for a major renovation, the District was able to regain use of the entire building. The offices of the mayor and council were temporarily relocated to One Judiciary Square
while those repairs took place. The fully renovated Wilson Building reopened in September 2001.
. The base of the building is made of grey granite from Maine while the upper four stories are constructed of white marble from New York
. The main entrance to the building features an eagle with outstretched wings surrounded by two sculptures representing "Justice" and "Law." The fifth (attic) story features alternating male and female sculptures of heroic figures that represent: sculpture, painting, architecture, music, commerce, engineering, agriculture, and statesmanship.
In January 2005, the statue of Alexander Robey Shepherd
, Governor of the District of Columbia from 1873 to 1874, was restored to its original location in front of the Wilson Building at the northwest corner. It had been removed in 1979 during the first year of Mayor Marion Barry
's administration.
, the appointed Mayor-Commissioner form of government was replaced by a locally elected Mayor of the District of Columbia
and Council of the District of Columbia
who maintain their offices within the Wilson Building. The D.C. Council chamber, committee rooms, and legislative staff offices are also located in the building.
In October 2006, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities opened the City Hall Arts Collection. Art pieces from a diverse group of D.C.-area artists are on public display throughout the building. Works include a glass casting by Michael Janis of the Washington Glass School; paintings by Felrath Hines (former chief conservator of the Hirshhorn Museum), Sylvia Snowden
, and Mark Cameron Boyd; photographs by Alexandra Silverthorne
, Harlee Little, and Max Hirshfeld; and sculpture by Jae Ko. The portrait of John A. Wilson on display at the main entrance is by renowned portrait painter Simmie Knox
.
Mayor of the District of Columbia
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is the head of the executive branch of the government of Washington, D.C. The Mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Council of the District of Columbia...
and Council
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
of the District of Columbia
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Originally called the District Building, it was renamed in 1994 to commemorate former Council Chair John A. Wilson
John A. Wilson
John A. Wilson was an American politician.Wilson served in 1974 as the chairman of the drive to approve the referendum to adopt the Home Rule Charter for the District of Columbia...
. Completed in 1908, the building is a contributing structure to the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
.
History
The original site of the John A. Wilson Building was a streetcar power station that had been destroyed by a fire in 1897. With the Public Building Act of 1902, Congress authorized $550,000 for the purchase of the property and an additional $1.5 million (later increased to $2 million) for the construction of a new District municipal building. Previously, the D.C. government had been housed in the District of Columbia City HallDistrict of Columbia City Hall
District of Columbia City Hall, also known as Old City Hall and the District of Columbia Courthouse, is a historic building at Judiciary Square in downtown Washington, D.C. Originally built for the offices of the D.C...
.
A competition held for the design of the new District Building called for "classic design in the manner of the English Renaissance." The Philadelphia firm of Cope and Stewardson won the contract and construction started in 1904. The building was dedicated on July 4, 1908 by Henry MacFarland, President of the Board of Commissioners. While the building has continuously served as the municipal offices of the District's local government, the United States Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
housed 200 visiting servicemen there during World War II.
In 1977, a total of twelve gunmen took about 150 people hostage at three sites around Washington. During the crisis, later known as the 1977 Hanafi Siege, two of those gunmen held about a dozen hostages inside the council chambers on the fifth floor of the District Building. Then-councilman Marion Barry
Marion Barry
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
was hit by a stray bullet during the commotion, which left two others dead. The press room at the Wilson Building is named in memory of Maurice Williams, a 24-year-old reporter who was killed during the attack.
In 1995, two-thirds of the Wilson Building was leased to the Federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
for a period 20 years due to the District's inability to pay for needed repairs. However, after the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
approved funds for a major renovation, the District was able to regain use of the entire building. The offices of the mayor and council were temporarily relocated to One Judiciary Square
One Judiciary Square
One Judiciary Square is a highrise office building at 401 Fourth Street NW in the Judiciary Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Designed by architect Vlastimil Koubek, the building is tall and has approximately 10 floors...
while those repairs took place. The fully renovated Wilson Building reopened in September 2001.
Exterior
The District Building was designed in the American Beaux Arts classical style and takes up the entire block between 13th and 14th Streets NW, south of Pennsylvania Avenue across from Freedom PlazaFreedom Plaza
Freedom Plaza, originally known as Western Plaza, is an open plaza in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. Constructed in 1980, the plaza is mostly composed of stone, inlaid with a depiction of parts...
. The base of the building is made of grey granite from Maine while the upper four stories are constructed of white marble from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The main entrance to the building features an eagle with outstretched wings surrounded by two sculptures representing "Justice" and "Law." The fifth (attic) story features alternating male and female sculptures of heroic figures that represent: sculpture, painting, architecture, music, commerce, engineering, agriculture, and statesmanship.
In January 2005, the statue of Alexander Robey Shepherd
Alexander Robey Shepherd
Alexander Robey Shepherd , better known as Boss Shepherd, was one of the most controversial and influential civic leaders in the history of Washington, D.C., and one of the most powerful big-city political bosses of the Gilded Age. He was head of the DC Board of Public Works from 1871 to 1873 and...
, Governor of the District of Columbia from 1873 to 1874, was restored to its original location in front of the Wilson Building at the northwest corner. It had been removed in 1979 during the first year of Mayor Marion Barry
Marion Barry
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
's administration.
Current use
Following the District of Columbia Home Rule ActDistrict of Columbia Home Rule Act
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is a United States federal law passed on December 24, 1973 which devolved certain congressional powers of the District of Columbia to local government, furthering District of Columbia home rule...
, the appointed Mayor-Commissioner form of government was replaced by a locally elected Mayor of the District of Columbia
Mayor of the District of Columbia
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is the head of the executive branch of the government of Washington, D.C. The Mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Council of the District of Columbia...
and Council of the District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
who maintain their offices within the Wilson Building. The D.C. Council chamber, committee rooms, and legislative staff offices are also located in the building.
In October 2006, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities opened the City Hall Arts Collection. Art pieces from a diverse group of D.C.-area artists are on public display throughout the building. Works include a glass casting by Michael Janis of the Washington Glass School; paintings by Felrath Hines (former chief conservator of the Hirshhorn Museum), Sylvia Snowden
Sylvia Snowden
Sylvia Snowden is a black American artist. Snowden received a scholarship to Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine and has a certificate from Le Grande Chaumier in Paris, France. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Howard University. At...
, and Mark Cameron Boyd; photographs by Alexandra Silverthorne
Alexandra Silverthorne
Alexandra Silverthorne is a Washington, D.C.-based artist and photographer. Her work focuses on spatial theory and exploration. Silverthorne is the daughter of a documentary filmmaker and a cultural anthropologist. Her uncle is photographer Jeffrey Silverthorne.Silverthorne's first main works...
, Harlee Little, and Max Hirshfeld; and sculpture by Jae Ko. The portrait of John A. Wilson on display at the main entrance is by renowned portrait painter Simmie Knox
Simmie Knox
Simmie Knox is an African American painter who was chosen to paint the official White House portrait of former United States President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.-External links:*...
.