• By Dana Marks*
• July 25, 2018

Why are There so Many Brutalist Federal Buildings in Washington?

Background on Brutalism
Brutalism is an architectural style that stemmed from the modern architecture movement of the mid-twentieth century, and flourished from the 1950s through the 1970s. Character-defining features include the widespread use of concrete, sculptural, or blocky forms that are usually top-heavy, with deep-set windows. These characteristics set Brutalist buildings apart from other modernist styles in the same time period, which appear lighter and oftentimes more transparent. Brutalist buildings communicate a sense of permanence and monumentality, sometimes appearing fortress-like with large angular forms.

In the 1960s, the federal government experienced a period of growth and required more office space to accommodate its growing workforce. Responding to this need, President John F. Kennedy established the Ad Hoc Committee of Federal Office Space, which published a report in 1962 that included Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture. Drafted by Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1), the document encouraged federal planners to build structures that “reflect the dignity, enterprise, vigor and stability of the American National Government” and “embody the finest contemporary American architectural thought.” (2)

The high era of Brutalist architectural popularity coincided with Moynihan’s newly published report and the federal government’s need for new buildings. Brutalism’s use of concrete—a solid, durable, and economical material—made it an appealing contemporary style to provide government agencies with efficient facilities that designers believed represented the stability of the American government. The buildings emphasized both efficiency and streamlined monumental concrete structures.

Washington’s Brutalist Buildings
You can find Brutalist architecture throughout Washington—and it is not confined to federal buildings. Brutalist buildings are all over the city, including: L’Enfant Plaza, the Hirshhorn Museum, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s J. Edgar Hoover Building, the U.S. Department of Energy’s James V. Forrestal Building, the University of the District of Columbia, and the American Institute of Architects’ Headquarters.

A prime example of a federal building in this style is the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, which houses the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 200 Independence Avenue, SW. The Humphrey Building, designed by Marcel Breuer, had its dedication on November 1, 1977. Located at the foot of Capitol Hill, the entire low-rise building is set back on a large paved lot to allow views of the Rayburn House Office Building and Bartholdi Park. Using cast concrete and other prefabricated materials significantly reduced the Humphrey Building’s overall construction costs. Its exterior facades are covered with repetitive deep-set window openings that display a striking Brutalist design component. The ground floor is recessed under the main structure behind a glass curtain wall, which gives the illusion that the structure is floating, and emphasizes the top-heaviness of the entire building. These Brutalist elements produce a monumental effect that reflects the durability and stability of the building, which was intended to be the permanent headquarters of the federal agency it still houses today.

The most famous example of Brutalism in Washington—although many people may not realize it as such—is the Metrorail system. Designed by Harry Weese, the system features large vaults of coffered precast concrete panels and boxy station kiosks, sign pylons, and elevators. Recessed lighting between the tracks and vaults emphasize the shapes and shadows of the overall design. In 2014 the American Institute of Architects honored the design with its 25 Year Award, noting that its modern design introduced in 1976 has withstood the test of time.

The State of Brutalism Today
By the mid-1980s, as tastes changed, the Brutalist movement faded away from the foreground of architectural progress. However, many buildings of the era continue to serve federal agencies and offices. Recently, the style has experienced a resurgence in interest with the publication of maps, guides, and books that highlight Brutalist architecture, including Brutalist DC’s Brutalist Washington Map. While the preferred style of new federal buildings designed to meet Moynihan’s Guiding Principles has changed, the legacy of its Brutalist beginnings lives on throughout the capital city.

(1) NCPC recognized Moynihan, who later served as a U.S. Senator from New York, for his commitment to federal design and planning by renaming one of its conference rooms the “Daniel Patrick Moynihan Conference Room” after his death in 2003.
(2) Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, Report to the President by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space, June 1, 1962.

Further Reading
Brutalist DC. Brutalist Washington Map. 2016. http://brutalistdc.com/brutalist-washington-map/.

Budds, Diana. The Little-Known History Of Why Washington, D.C., Is A Brutalist Playground. Co.Design. October 17, 2016.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3064585/the-little-known-history-that-turned-washington-dc-into-a-brutalist-playground.

Goldchain, Michelle. The 15 Brutalist Buildings Every D.C. Resident Should Know. Curbed Washington, DC. November 16, 2015.
https://dc.curbed.com/maps/map-brutalist-architecture-washington-dc.

Hurley, Amanda Kolson. The Case for Preserving–and Improving–Brutalist Architecture. The Washington Post Magazine. May 25, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-case-for-preserving--and-improving--brutalist-architecture/2017/05/23/8f94d198-286a-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ec0d1c4a9f40.

Moynihan, Daniel Patrick. Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture. Report to the President by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space. June 1, 1962. https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/design-construction/design-excellence/design-excellence-program/guiding-principles-for-federal-architecture.

* Dana Marks is a summer intern with the National Capital Planning Commission. She is pursuing a graduate degree in Historic Preservation through Clemson University and the College of Charleston.