Designed by D.C. architect George S. Cooper and completed in 1899 as part of the first wave of apartment building construction, the Jefferson's conventional low-rise style utilized Romanesque Revival features for its middle-class residents working and residing in the city. Even with its architectural detailing, it still took many years and continued construction of apartment buildings for Washingtonians to fully accept apartment buildings. However, around the turn of the century, buildings like the Jefferson pushed city residents toward multi-unit buildings. The Jefferson's presence on H Street allowed more middle-class residents to move closer to work downtown without the larger expenses of owning a home. The growing population and increase in construction of apartment buildings indicated that future housing developments and demographic trends within D.C. would continue to shift, especially in the coming decades of the twentieth century.

DC Inventory: February 21, 1990

National Register: September 7, 1994

This site is a stop on the D.C. Apartment Buildings tour as an example of a Conventional Low-Rise apartment building.

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The Bond Building has been a pivotal structure in downtown DC's business and financial district since it was constructed in 1901. The seven-story Beaux-Arts office building, designed by architect George S. Cooper (1864-1929), stands as a landmark to the prosperity and expansion of turn-of-the century Washington. Over the years, the building served as an office space for Senators, Congressmen, prominent attorneys and other professionals, as well as trade associations that have figured prominently in business life in DC and beyond.

In 1979, a developer bought the building and applied for a demolition permit. DC Superior Court Judge William E. Stewart Jr. blocked demolition in 1980. The Bond Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Between 1985 and 1986, the façade was incorporated into a new building on the original site.

DC Inventory: September 18, 1980

National Register: September 15, 1983

Within Financial Historic District

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In the final years of the 19th century, the construction of the Lafayette in 1898 marked a shift in Washingtonians' housing needs. While it only held twelve units, comparatively small to future apartment buildings, the Lafayette's conventional low-rise structure was new to the city, and not greatly accepted amongst residents. Meant for middle-class residents living in the city, the Queen Anne architecture blended style and purpose into the building, hoping to attract more potential residents toward apartment living. As part of the earliest waves of apartment building construction, the Lafayette had the large task of moving Washingtonians toward apartment living over single-family homes, which was not an easy or quick transition for many.

Designed by George S. Cooper, a native Washingtonian himself, the building stands as a testament to the future of housing within the city and the growth that D.C. would undergo throughout the twentieth century. Cooper would also incorporate similar design elements to other buildings he worked on, and was the first architect in D.C. to duplicate designs for apartment buildings at the Gladstone and the Hawarden. While the Lafayette has a unique design, its construction and endurance in the city shaped the future acceptance of apartment living.

Built between 1900 and 1901, these twin buildings were the first of their kind and are responsible for a major shift in how apartment buildings in the city were constructed. D.C. native George S. Cooper, who designed the two buildings in a Renaissance Revival style, decided to use duplicate designs during construction rather than create two unique buildings — which was a new approach in Washington. This innovation was a more efficient and economical way to spend money on the construction of middle class apartment buildings.

At the turn of the century, the Gladstone and Hawarden were among the first wave of buildings constructed with a conventional mid-rise design meant to house the growing middle-class population. While residents still hesitated towards aparment living as socially acceptable, these apartments provided a more economical option for those who needed housing but could not obtain single-family homes. While it took some years before D.C. residents fully accepted apartment living as socially acceptable, these buildings were responsible for allowing more people access to the city and convenience while working nearby.

DC Inventory: January 17, 1990

National Register: September 7, 1994

Within Fourteenth Street Historic District

This site is included on the D.C. Apartment Buildings tour as an example of a Conventional Mid-Rise apartment building.

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