4/23/2024 0 Comments Inside the senate office buildings![]() Twin marble staircases lead from the rotunda to an imposing Caucus Room, which features Corinthian pilasters, a full entablature, and a richly detailed ceiling the Russell Caucus Room (known since 2009 as the "Kennedy Caucus Room" in honor of Senators John F. Eighteen Corinthian columns support an entablature and a coffered dome, whose glazed oculus floods the rotunda with sunlight. Of special architectural interest is the rotunda. ![]() Originally there were 98 suites and eight committee rooms in the Russell Building the First Street Wing, completed in 1933, added two committee rooms and 28 suites. Both are connected to the Capitol by underground passages. Modern for their time, they included such facilities as forced-air ventilation systems, steam heat, individual lavatories with hot and cold running water and ice water, telephones, and electricity. Both buildings are faced with marble and limestone the Russell Building's base and terrace are gray granite. The colonnades, with 34 Doric columns that face the Capitol, are echoed by pilasters on the sides of the buildings. side is a quasi replica of the easternmost façade of the Palais du Louvre in Paris. Architecturally, their elevations are divided into a rusticated base and a colonnade with an entablature and balustrade. Their Beaux Arts designs were restrained complements to the Capitol. John Carrère took charge of the Senate Office Building project, while Thomas Hastings oversaw the construction of an almost identical office building (now named the Cannon House Office Building) for the United States House of Representatives. In April 1904, the prominent New York City architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings was retained. In March 1903 the acquisition of sites and construction of the buildings were authorized, and the Senate Office Building Commission selected a site. In March 1901 Congress authorized Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark to draw plans for fireproof office buildings adjacent to the Capitol grounds. Previously, members who wanted office space had to rent quarters or borrow space in committee rooms. The first congressional office building was constructed immediately after the turn of the 20th century to relieve overcrowding in the United States Capitol. It occupies a site north of the Capitol bounded by Constitution Avenue, First Street, Delaware Avenue, and C Street N.E. It was named for former Senator Richard Russell Jr. ![]() Designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, it was built from 1903 to 1908 and opened in 1909. The Russell Senate Office Building is the oldest of the United States Senate office buildings. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |