Hubert H. Humphrey Building
| Hubert H. Humphrey Building | |
|---|---|
United States General Services Administration | |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Steel and precast concrete |
| Floor count | 8 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Marcel Breuer |
| Website | |
| GSA.gov | |
The Hubert H. Humphrey Building is a
The Hubert H. Humphrey Building is located at 200
Construction
Planning for the structure began about 1965.[1]
The building was designed by architect
Due to objections from the
Construction on the building began in early May 1972.[2] Congress threatened to take over the building and use it for office space for the United States House of Representatives, but instead opted to raze a block of restored 19th century homes on New Jersey Avenue SW.[1] In April 1977, as the Humphrey Building neared completion, one of the welds connecting the hanging interior walls to the roof truss cracked. The roof sagged 19 inches (48 cm), and 200 workers were evacuated from the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. The beam was pulled back into position and rewelded into place.[7] It was dedicated on November 1, 1977.[8] The concrete work on the structure was poor in some places, with poor joints. Softball-sized chunks came loose from the concrete work shortly before the building was dedicated.[4]
Dedication and use
The building was originally called the South Portal Building, as it served as a sort of gate or portal to the United States Capitol complex.[1] But this was changed, and it was named for Hubert H. Humphrey, then serving as U.S. Senator from Minnesota, and previously Vice President of the United States. It was the first time a federal building had been named for a living person,[9] although at that time it was publicly known that Humphrey was terminally ill with cancer, and Humphrey died on January 13, 1978, just seventy-five days after the building was dedicated on November 1, 1977.
As of 2012[update], all of HHS's managerial and supervisory offices are contained in the building, but none of its operating divisions.
In April 2014, the General Services Administration said it would spend $6.74 million to renovate the Humphrey Building into open workspace. This would allow the Office of the Chief Information Officer to move into the structure.[10]
References
- ^ a b c Dewar, Helen. "House Eyes New HEW Headquarters." Washington Post. July 18, 1975.
- ^ a b c d e f g Von Eckardt, Wolf. "Breuer's New HEW: Fine Designs, Dollar Signs." Washington Post. May 13, 1972.
- ^ Moore, p. 95.
- ^ a b c d e f g Conroy, Sarah Booth. "Marcel Breuer: The Man, the Myth, the Craft." Washington Post. November 5, 1977.
- ^ Conroy, Sarah Booth. "Art Works for Federal Buildings." Washington Post. October 29, 1974.
- ^ Thalacker, p. 176.
- ^ "Weld of Roof Beam Cracks at HEW Site." Washington Post. April 16, 1977.
- ^ Miller, p. 219.
- ^ Hill and Hill, p. 119.
- ^ Aitoro, Jill R. "Two Federal Buildings Poised for Makeover Under GSA Consolidation Plan." Washington Business Journal. April 22, 2014. Accessed 2014-04-22.
Bibliography
- Hill, Kathleen and Hill, Gerald N. Encyclopedia of Federal Agencies and Commissions. New York: Facts on File, 2004.
- Miller, Jonathan. Compassionate Community: Ten Values to Unite America. New York: St Martin's Press, 2007.
- Moore, Arthur Cotton. The Powers of Preservation: New Life for Urban Historic Places. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.
- Thalacker, Donald W. The Place of Art in the World of Architecture. New York: Chelsea House, 1980.
38th Vice President of the United States (1964–1969) •
United States Senator from Minnesota (1949–1964, 1971–1978) | ||
| Political career |  | |
| Electoral history | ||
| Legacy | ||
| Family and personal life |
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