United States General Services Administration Building, Federal office building in Washington, D.C., United States
The General Services Administration Building is a federal office structure in Washington, D.C., characterized by Beaux-Arts architecture with classical columns, ornamental stonework, and regularly spaced windows. The limestone facade extends across multiple floors and houses various federal agencies within its walls.
Construction began in 1917 to meet the growing space needs of federal departments during World War I. The project reflected a period when government administration was rapidly expanding and consolidating its operations.
The building showcases Beaux-Arts design that was standard for government architecture in the early 1900s and still defines much of the capital's appearance today. Its classical elements like columns and symmetrical facades reflect the time when officials wanted architecture to communicate state power and permanence.
The building is centrally located in Washington and easily reachable by public transportation. Since it functions as an active workplace for federal agencies, some areas are not open to the public, so visitors should check in advance about which sections can be viewed.
The structure gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places for representing the centralization of federal administration throughout the 20th century. This designation highlights its importance as a setting where modern government operations took shape in America.
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