US General Accounting Office Building

US General Accounting Office Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Government Accountability Office Building in 2023
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Location	441 G Street NW Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°53′54.24″N 77°1′3″W
Area	5 acres (2.0 ha)
Built	1951
Architectural style	Modern
NRHP reference No.	95001086[1]
Added to NRHP	September 21, 1995

The U.S. Government Accountability Office Building is an historic government office building, the headquarters of the Government Accountability Office located at 441 G Street NW in Washington, D.C., adjacent to the National Building Museum.[2]

Unique in its "block style" design, federal office buildings before central air conditioning were designed with interior courtyards and wings, to allow for maximum ventilation and light. While the initial 1941 design utilized a "fish bone" style, with a central spine and interior courtyards, WWII placed the project on hold while technology advanced.

In 1946, an updated, novel "solid building" design made headlines. Untested, planning officials wondered whether such a structure would prove claustrophobic for employees.[3] It was dedicated on September 11, 1951, by President Harry S. Truman.[4] The building also serves as headquarters for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in central Washington, D.C.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Federal Buildings". www.visitingdc.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
3. "U.S. GAO - How GAO Built Its Dream House" (PDF). Gao.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
4. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/95001086_text

External links

• Media related to General Accounting Office Building at Wikimedia Commons