Winder Building, Federal architecture building in Downtown Washington D.C., United States.
The Winder Building stands at 600 17th Street Northwest as a five-story structure with brick walls covered in stucco and supported by cast iron beams. The rectangular form follows classical Federal proportions with regular window openings and clean lines on all sides.
William H. Winder built this structure in 1848 to address office space shortages for federal operations. The government purchased it in 1854 and converted it into an administrative headquarters.
The structure displays the symmetrical forms and classical details typical of Federal architecture from the mid-1800s. Its facade and interior reveal how that era understood order and stability through geometric patterns and solid materials.
The building sits just minutes on foot from the White House in a business district with good access to public transportation. The surrounding area offers pedestrian pathways and is surrounded by other historic structures that define an entire block in this neighborhood.
The structure included advanced systems that were uncommon about 175 years ago, such as hot water heating and fireproof construction using cast iron throughout. These technical advances show how forward-thinking builders experimented in the 1800s to make larger office buildings safer and more comfortable.
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