Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No. PG: 68-022 Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form 1. Name of Property (indicate preferred name) historic Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) Plant other 2. Location street and number 6501 Lafayette Avenue not for publication city, town Riverdale Park vicinity county Prince George's 3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners) name University of Maryland street and number 2101 Main Administration Building telephone city, town College Park state MD zip code 20742-5021 4. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Prince George's County Courthouse liber 16401 folio 255 city, town Upper Marlboro tax map 42 tax parcel 5 tax ID number 19 3507159 5. Primary Location of Additional Data Contributing Resource in National Register District Contributing Resource in Local Historic District Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Recorded by HABS/HAER Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT X Other: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Planning Department 6. Classification Category Ownership Current Function Resource Count district X public agriculture landscape Contributing Noncontributing X building(s) private commerce/trade recreation/culture 5 0 buildings structure both defense religion sites site domestic social structures object education transportation objects funerary work in progress 5 0 Total government unknown health care X vacant/not in use Number of Contributing Resources industry other: previously listed in the Inventory 1 7. Description Inventory No. PG: 68-022 Condition excellent deteriorated good ruins X fair altered Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today. The Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) Building is located in Riverdale Park, Prince George’s County, Maryland at 6501 Lafayette Avenue. This large parcel was originally composed of approximately 230 acres, but has been reduced to 13.707 acres. The parcel is flat and like many manufacturing plants, features an expansive grassy area and tree conservation area in front of the building, which serves as a buffer zone between the residential neighborhood south of the property. A large asphalt parking lot is located in the southeast corner of the property. The remainder of the lot is either covered with asphalt or improved with buildings. Lafayette Avenue enters the property from the southwest and extends along the western boundary of the property, parallel to the CSX rail line. The property is bisected by Noaa Road, which extends east-west connecting Lafayette Avenue and Rivertech Court. The manufacturing complex is enclosed by a chain-link fence. Three ancillary buildings are located east of the main plant. ENGINEERING RESEARCH CORPORATION (ERCO) BUILDING The Engineering Research Corporation (herein referred to as ERCO) Building is an imposing, two-story Moderne-style industrial building located in Riverdale Park, Maryland. Constructed in 1939 in response to a forecasted spike in general aviation, the ERCO Building is composed of a large administrative block finished in the Moderne style and a larger rear assembly block with no decorative ornamentation. Designed by ERCO engineers, the architecture for this building may have been inspired by Albert Kahn’s 1937 design for the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Plant (BA-3152) in Middle River, Maryland. The smaller, Moderne-style southern block will be discussed first followed by the rear assembly block. The southern portion of the ERCO Building fronting Noaa Road served as office space for the aviation company. The Moderne aesthetic reflected the forward-thinking engineering of ERCO. The brick and concrete- block structure has a veneer of large, smooth concrete panels. A water table and parapet wall add a horizontal emphasis to this large building, which is composed of a two-story, projecting main block flanked by long two- story wings. Adding to this horizontal effect are two bands of glass blocks that extend the width of wings. The glass blocks have been painted over. The façade (south elevation) of the main block features a central projecting bay that contains the main entry. This two-story block is three bays wide and has a parapet with fluted reliefs. Entry to the building is via the center bay, which projects slightly from the plane of the main block. The entry holds a double-leaf, metal-frame glass door flanked by full-height five-light, metal-sash fixed windows. The entry is sheltered by a one-story, semicircular glass bay capped by a cast concrete roof. The vestibule is extended by a decorative glass overhang. Entry to the vestibule is via a double-leaf, metal-frame glass door with a single-light transom. The north (side) and south (side) elevations of the wings are marked by two bands of glass blocks, which have been painted. A one-story, two-bay addition is located off the southwest corner of the building. Based on its form and materials, this addition was constructed in the mid-twentieth century. The concrete-block structure has a shed roof and a short concrete parapet with metal coping. The façade (south elevation) has two large bays of glass Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 68-022 Historic Properties Form Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) Plant Continuation Sheet Number 7 Page 2 blocks, which have been painted over. The west (side) elevation has no fenestration while the east (side) elevation contains a single-leaf metal door. The assembly plant is attached to the north (rear) elevation of the Moderne block. The large assembly plant consists of ten single-story factory bays of steel-frame, concrete-block, and brick construction; each measuring 30 to 35 feet wide, 280 to 350 feet long, and 20 feet high.1 The original roofing material has been replaced with metal sheeting.2 Metal I-beams extend from roofs perpendicular to the ridge to provide lateral stability to the sawtooth roofs. The upper gable ends of the roofs have either been clad in vertical sheets of corrugated metal or have a six-course, American-bond brick veneer. This central block of sawtooth roofs composes the majority of the assembly plant. Fenestration consists of a collection of single-leaf, metal or wood doors and large window openings of metal-sash casement and awning windows. A tall, roll-up, metal door is located along the west side of the building. The east (side) elevation of the factory bays has a single-bay, metal roll-up door near the southeast corner. East, north, and west of this central block are auxiliary appendages. The western block of the factory is a two-story building with a six-course, American-bond brick veneer. Based on its form and materials, this block is an original feature. The flat roof with metal coping is marked by a large boiler. Fenestration consists of triple, four-light, metal-sash casements and large bays of metal-sash awning and casement windows. Most of the glass is currently broken and/or missing. Additional fenestration consists of a single-leaf, paneled wood door located on the second story of the south elevation. This opening is accessed via a metal balcony and stair attached to the face of the wall. A concrete-tile chimney stack is connected to the west elevation via a metal chute. The chimney rests on a solid foundation obscured by asphalt. Tapered, this chimney features a corbeled cap, although currently in poor condition. A small segmental metal door is located at the base of the chimney, which may have been used as an incinerator or kiln. Southeast of the factory bays are a series of one-story structures. Starting in the south is a side-gabled structure clad in vertical sheets of corrugated metal. A metal flue extends from the east side of the structure. The twenty- light, metal-sash windows have been painted over. Moving north is a block with a six-course, American-bond brick veneer. Fenestration consists of large bays of metal-sash casement and awning windows. The openings have concrete lug sills. A one-story, one-bay porch with hood shelters a single-leaf metal door. The roof is supported by metal poles. A concrete ramp provides access to the opening. Additional fenestration of this brick appendage consists of a single-leaf door opening enclosed with concrete blocks. East of the assembly bays is a one-story, concrete-block structure. Based on its form and materials, this appendage was constructed c. 1950. A shed roof caps the structure and features raking wood boards and thin overhanging eaves. The east elevation has two large openings with brick surrounds flanking a centrally located single-leaf metal door with light. The north bay holds a metal roll-up door while the south bay has been infilled with concrete blocks. The south elevation holds a large window opening composed of metal-sash casement and awning windows with a concrete lug sill. A second opening has been infilled with concrete blocks. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 68-022 Historic Properties Form Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) Plant Continuation Sheet Number 7 Page 3 Northeast of the factory bays is a one-story loading dock. Set on a solid foundation composed of poured concrete, bricks, and concrete blocks, this metal-frame loading dock is clad in vertical sheets of corrugated metal. A flat roof with wide overhanging eaves and metal brackets caps the structure. The east elevation features three loading docks with hydraulic lifts and roll-up metal doors (appear to be replacement). The north elevation has a similar opening. The south elevation has a single-leaf, metal door accessed via metal stairs. The loading dock was in poor condition at the time of the 2009 on-site survey.