Department of Labor Building

The Department of Labor Building is a government office in Federal Triangle, situated where 14th Street meets Constitution Avenue Northwest. It features neoclassical stone facades and prominent columns that reflect Washington's classical architectural traditions.

Construction started in 1932 with a ceremonial cornerstone laying by President Herbert Hoover, marking the project's importance to the administration. Decades later, the space transitioned from housing the Department of Labor to serving as EPA West headquarters starting in 1979.

The building embodies the role of government in labor matters through its formal neoclassical design and placement within the Federal Triangle. Visitors can sense the official character of the space, which was shaped to project governmental authority and importance.

The building sits in a central location with good access to public transportation and has visitor checkpoints at security entrances. Be prepared for standard security procedures, as not all areas of the building are open to the public.

Freemason organizations participated in the ceremonial cornerstone laying in 1932, an often-overlooked detail about the building's inauguration. This involvement of fraternal groups in major government projects was common practice during that era of public construction.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1935

Architects: Arthur Brown, Jr.

Architectural style: neoclassicism

Part of: Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building

GPS coordinates: 38.89222,-77.03083

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:42