Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Adjacent to the , the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was built from 1871 to 1888 to accommodate the growing staffs of the State, War, and Navy Departments. The building represents one of the finest examples of French Second Empire architecture and currently houses a majority of offices for White House staff, Executive Branch federal agencies, and the Office of the Vice President of the United States. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969 and National Register of Historical Places in 1972. The building has housed some of the nation’s most distinguished diplomats and politicians and has been the scene of many historic events.

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Washington, DC

Architecture Style French Second Empire Steep Mansard Roof Profile Central and End Pavilions Elaborate Sculptured Facade

Facade Granite, Slate and Cast Iron

Prominent Architectural Features 4 Skylight Domes 2 Stained Glass Rotundas 8 Monumental Granite Curving Staircases Over 4,000 Cast Bronze Balusters 1,572 Original Exterior Windows 900 Exterior Columns 553 Original Rooms 1,784 Number of Steps 1.73 Miles of Total Corridor Length

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Description The construction (1871- 1888) of the French Second Empire designed Eisenhower Executive Office Building took nearly 17 years to complete and was developed wing by wing. Prominent architectural elements include eight monumental curving staircases made of granite, with 4,000 individual cast bronze balusters, four skylight domes, and two stained glass rotundas. Almost all of the interior is comprised of cast iron, plaster, and black and white tiled corridors. This historical building is now the primary government office building for the executive branch including the offices of the Vice President of the United States.. The building also houses federal agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President, such as the Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Council.

Official Building Name Eisenhower Executive Office Building Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Previous Names Old Executive Office Building State, War, and Navy Building

Location 17th Street NW, between and New York Avenue

Adjacent to (west of) the White House

Construction Commenced - 1871 | Completed - 1888 (17 years) U.S. State Department’s south wing was the first wing to be occupied in 1875 Navy Department moved into the in 1879

Size & Scale 662, 600 GSF | 61,500 SM | 566 total rooms | Levels: Basement, Ground, 1 through 5

Historical Significance U.S. National Historic Landmark 1969 National Register of Historic Places 1972 District of Columbia Inventory Historic Sites 1972

LEADERSHIP | PROJECT DESIGN | CURRENT USE

U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant (Presidency 1869 - 1877) commissioned the building

Architect Alfred B. Mullett

Current Use United States Federal Government office building Office of the Vice President of the United States & Executive Branch agencies Maintained by the General Services Administration (GSA)

NOTABLE FACTS

 For many years, the world’s largest office building with 566 rooms

 151 original fireplaces (83 remain)

 900 exterior columns and 1,572 original exterior windows

 1,784 number of steps and over 4,000 bronze stair balusters

 The use of wood was minimized to reduce the risk of fire.

 The Indian Treaty Room, originally the U.S.. Navy’s library and reception room, is often utilized

for U.S. Presidential news conferences and receptions.

 Numerous prominent political figures have had offices or walked the corridors of this National Landmark building including , Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Winston Churchill.

 In 1957, President Eisenhower’s Advisory Committee on Presidential Office Space recommended demolition of the building.

Eisenhower Office Building left side of photo, next door to the White House