Russell Senate Office Building

The Russell Senate Office Building is a government structure on Capitol Hill in Washington that houses individual office suites for senators, committee rooms and conference facilities across several floors. Its Constitution Avenue facade displays 34 Doric columns that echo design elements from the Palais du Louvre in Paris.

Congress authorized the structure in 1903 to address overcrowding in the Capitol, and the building opened six years later. It became the first dedicated office space for the Senate, setting a precedent for later congressional expansions on Capitol Hill.

The Kennedy Caucus Room serves as a space where major hearings take place, drawing senators, staff and visitors during sessions. People pass through hallways connecting offices and meeting rooms, where you see the building in active use as part of the legislative process.

Visitors should expect security screening at the entrance and can explore public areas during business hours. The wide corridors and high ceilings help with orientation, though the building spans several levels that require walking between different wings.

A central rotunda supports a coffered dome with a glass oculus that brings natural light into the interior, creating a quiet focal point that many visitors walk past. The eighteen Corinthian columns around the space combine classical proportion with a functional design that avoids artificial lighting during the day.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Architects: Edward Clark

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

GPS coordinates: 38.89278,-77.00694

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22