Bond Building

The Bond Building at New York Avenue is a five-story stone structure from the early twentieth century featuring classical details such as pilasters, cornices, and expansive windows. The building occupies a rectangular block and shapes the streetscape of the financial district with its clear, symmetrical composition.

The structure was built in 1901 when a businessman wanted to establish a financial firm and needed a new office building to support his growing enterprise. Over the following decades it served various companies and remained important for commercial activities in the downtown core.

The structure sits at a prominent corner of the downtown area and demonstrates how banks once expressed power through their buildings. The facade with its generous windows and solid stone walls still conveys a sense of security and permanence that was crucial for financial institutions of that era.

The building sits in a busy commercial district with good access via public transportation and is walkable from other sites of interest. The neighborhood has numerous restaurants and shops nearby, making a visit easy to combine with exploring the larger downtown area.

The structure faced demolition threats multiple times, but a court ruling in the 1980s protected it from being torn down. This preservation saved an important example of early twentieth-century commercial architecture from being lost.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1901

Architects: George S. Cooper

GPS coordinates: 38.89917,-77.03222

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:23