U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Building (Mary E. Switzer Building): In 1972, this became the first federal building to be named for a woman, Mary E. Switzer.

2017-09-06T20:24:56+00:00

This federal building was constructed between 1939 and 1940, using the design of architects Charles Z. Klauder and Louis A. Simon. Although it was intended for the Railroad Retirement Board, its first occupant was the United States Department of War.

On July 28, 1938, Simon and Klauder presented their designs for two buildings to house the Railroad Retirement Board and the Social Security Administration to the United States Commission of Fine Arts, which had the authority to review all new public buildings erected in the District of Columbia. Klauder designed back-to-back buildings, with the Social Security Administration building facing Independence Avenue SW and the Railroad Retirement Board building facing C Street SW. The finished building, in addition to its unusual "fishbone" plan, had elements of both Streamline Moderne and Egyptian Revival in its facade.

Through an Act of Congress, it was renamed the Mary E. Switzer Memorial Building on October 21, 1972, becoming the first federal building to be named for a woman.

DC Inventory: April 26, 2007

National Register: July 6, 2007

For more view the original article

Social Security Administration (Wilbur J. Cohen) Building: The Wilbur J. Cohen Building was one of the last federal buildings constructed under the extensive construction program of the 1920s and 1930s.

2016-01-11T19:22:21+00:00

The Wilbur J. Cohen Building, formerly the Social Security Administration Building, is a monumental presence amongst significant public buildings on the National Mall. The building is part of the modern architectural movement of the first half of the 20th century, while harking back to 19th century revivalism in its organization and detailing.

Charles Z. Klauder (1872-1938), consulting architect under the supervision of then Supervising Architect of the Treasury, Louis A. Simon (1867-1958), designed the building with block-like massing, planar wall surfaces, and simple geometric forms that are reflective of classically influenced modern styles that dominated the design of public buildings of the era.

Constructed between 1939 and 1940, the Social Security Administration Building is primarily clad in Indiana limestone and rises five stories, with a sixth floor penthouse/recreational space. The interior of the building falls more clearly into Art Moderne characteristics through the use of sharp contrasts between materials, clean geometric forms, and shiny and smooth-textured materials. The building includes an extensive art collection, including murals by Ben Shahn and Seymour Fogel.

For many years, the building has housed Voice of America and the US Agency for Global Media.

DC Inventory: April 26, 2007

National Register: July 6, 2007

For more (including 3 images) view the original article

DC Historic Sites

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Building (Mary E. Switzer Building): In 1972, this became the first federal building to be named for a woman, Mary E. Switzer.

Social Security Administration (Wilbur J. Cohen) Building: The Wilbur J. Cohen Building was one of the last federal buildings constructed under the extensive construction program of the 1920s and 1930s.