The Euram Building, completed in 1971, is a Modernist office building designed by George Hartman and Warren Cox of the major Washington firm of Hartman-Cox Architects. Since its construction by the Maritime Company in the early 1970s, the Euram Building has received widespread praise for its innovative design.
The building’s site was purchased by the Euram Corporation around 1968. The Euram Corporation, an investment firm associated with an Italian bank, wanted “a better than average building that would contribute something to the city.” Constructed between 1970 and 1971, the Euram Building’s design was likely inspired by a never constructed building at nearby 1 Dupont Circle designed by well-known architect Kevin Roche. The work of Louis Kahn, another noted architect of the era, has also been referenced as inspiration for the building’s design.
In 1971, architectural critic Benjamin Forgey of the Washington Star wrote, “It is rare to come upon a new office building that is truly designed, and rarer still to find one that is designed with boldness, originality, and tact.” That same year, the Euram Building received an award from the Washington Board of Trade, and, in 1972, it was honored by the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Potomac Valley Chapter. Decades later, in Modernism in the District of Columbia, a 2009 survey, Robinson & Associates wrote, “At the time, the Euram Building resembled no other in the District and broke every rule of the Washington office building design that had been established over the previous two decades.”
Located on the south side of Dupont Circle between 19th Street NW and New Hampshire Avenue NW, the eight-story Euram Building’s footprint is trapezoidal in shape, with its apex facing Dupont Circle. The building is framed by brick piers, with alternating glass ribbon windows and pairs of concrete girders stretching between the piers. This gives the building a horizontal emphasis, particularly along 19th Street and New Hampshire Avenue, the east and west elevations, respectively. The building’s concrete crossbeams – what look like slots between the girders – are also visible on these elevations. These perpendicular crossbeams are visible in the building’s interior courtyard (or atrium), where they support the cantilevered floor space.
Ribbon windows and pairs of post-tensioned girders are visible on the north elevation, but only at the second floor, just above the main entrance, and the top two floors. Like the east and west elevations, perpendicular crossbeams are also visible at these floors. These beams are most evident when looking up at the top floor (eighth floor) and the recessed seventh floor that stretch between the angled brick of the front of the building. The angles of the triangular brick piers lead towards the interior courtyard.
The main entrance, located between the angled brick piers of the north elevation, leads to a large, open-air interior courtyard that rises through the entire building (86-feet in height). Offices, visible through glass, are cantilevered above this trapezoidal-shaped space. At the south end of the courtyard are two brick cylinders that contain the building’s elevator shafts.
Despite its Modernist design and features, the Euram Building hints at the coming “contextualism” of Postmodern architecture, which would flourish in the 1980s and 1990s. Thus, the building references the Dupont Circle Building (1931, Mihran Mesrobian) just across 19th Street and the Patterson House (Washington Club, 1903, Stanford White) on the northeast side of Dupont Circle.
Postmodern design would become a hallmark of Hartman-Cox Architects. The firm would go on to design some of DC’s most significant Postmodern buildings, including the National Permanent Building (1974, since altered), the Bond Reading Room at the Folger Shakespeare Library (1983), Market Square (1990), and One Franklin Square (1990). In 1994, Forgey wrote of the “Washington School” of architecture, a school Hartman-Cox Architects adhered to. This architectural movement pays attention to “sense of place” and a building’s “site and surroundings,” as well as “traditional historical styles and motifs in the design of new buildings.”
Although clearly Modernist, the Euram Building was the beginning of the firm’s move towards a new style of architecture that considered the surrounding context. Hartman-Cox Architects has won more than 100 awards, including the AIA Architectural Firm Award in 1988.
DC Inventory: May 1, 2025
National Register: July 9, 2025
Within Dupont Circle Historic District and Massachusetts Avenue Historic District
]]>Constructed between 1902 and 1903, this semi-detached row house was the second to be built in Sheridan Circle and remains architecturally distinct from the neighboring Beaux-Arts mansions. Designed by Washington architect Waddy B. Wood in the Mission/Arts & Crafts style, the four story home is is clad in stucco, and includes large oak doors with handmade accents and a terra cotta tile roof. The interior, which is historically designated, incorporates iron light fixtures, red clay tile, colorful mosaics, and exposed ceiling beams in the Mission/Arts & Crafts style.
The home was built for Alice Pike Barney, an artist, community activist, and cultural crusader for Washington society. Ms. Barney utilized Studio House to host meetings, parties, and fundraising events to improve the artistic and cultural life of Washington, D.C. In her home, she created art, produced theatrical productions, and developed connections between thespians, artists, writers, politicians, and diplomats to boost the artistic inclinations of the expanding city in the early 1900s.
By the mid-1920s, Alice Barney had left Washington for Hollywood, and attempted to sell the house with no avail. She deeded the property to her daughters, who ultimately donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1960 to be used as an arts and cultural center. The home remained in use by the museum system for many years, and currently houses the Latvian Embassy.
DC Inventory: December 15, 1994
National Register: April 27, 1995
Within Massachusetts Avenue and Sheridan-Kalorama Historic Districts
]]>During the early 20th century, the British government procured a large tract of land off of Massachusetts Avenue in order to establish their new embassy. At the time, the area was underdeveloped in comparison with other DC neighborhoods; the British government became the first nation to build an embassy in the area that would later become known as Embassy Row.
Designed around 1928 by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built in 1931, the British Embassy was built of brick and stone in a Neo-Georgian Palladian style, meant to resemble an English country manor. The embassy is situated in a compound that is home to the ambassador's residence and the old and new chanceries. By the 1950s, the old chancery was deemed too cramped, and the new chancery, designed by chief architect Eric Bedford, was constructed between 1955 and 1961, with Queen Elizabeth II laying the foundation stone on October 19, 1957. Part of the old chancery was converted into staff quarters, and the rest is currently occupied by the offices of the British Council.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
]]>Built between 1907 and 1909, the Joseph Beale House stands as an example of one of many buildings designed by local architect Glenn Brown. The house, an Italian Renaissance Revival style residence, was one of three designed by Brown along Massachusetts Avenue NW. Brown and his son Bedford worked together on a number of projects throughout the city, including buildings and structures. Brown and his son were also responsible for designing Dumbarton Bridge (also known as Buffalo Bridge after the large sculptures of buffalo on either side of the bridge), and the restoration of Gunston Hall in Virginia. The house was originally built as a private residence for Joseph Beale and his wife Margaret Beale. However, the house is now owned by the Egyptian government as the ambassador’s official residence. The building sits along the portion of Massachusetts Avenue known as Embassy Row.
DC Inventory: February 22, 1972 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: May 8, 1973
Within Massachusetts Avenue and Sheridan-Kalorama Historic Districts
]]>The Samuel M. Bryan House was built in 1885 and designed by architect W. Bruce Gray. Samuel M. Bryan worked in various capacities, starting at age 15 when he served as a drummer boy in the Union Army during the Civil War. From there, he went on to work at the Treasury Department, the Post Office Department, the Universal Postal Congress on behalf of Japan, and then eventually he became the President of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, a position in which he served until 1889.
After this time, Bryan moved out of Washington but it is unknown where he went or when he died. In 1895, the house was sold to Washington philanthropist, Bessie J. Kibbey. She added a third story to the existing back of the building in 1904.
The Church of the Saviour bought the house in 1950 and added a one story addition to the rear while also adding partitions on the third floor among other changes to convert the building from a residence to a church and offices. The solid, dark building dominates nearby structures. There is no superfluous ornamentation to distract from the strong influence of the tower, entrance portal and building height. Romanesque in detail, individual and linear elements are defined by boldly articulated materials and shapes. The interior, though more decorative, is related in style to the exterior. The single greatest elements are the central living halls and galleried stair. Similar details used throughout unify the chambers.
DC Inventory: February 22, 1972 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
Within the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District and the Dupont Circle Historic District
]]>Built from 1881 to 1882 and designed by architect John Fraser, this house was the residence of James G. Blaine until 1883. Blaine served as Secretary of State under Presidents Garfield and Harrison and later became the first President of the Pan-American Congress. Blaine was the Republican presidential nominee in 1884. He had previously served as Speaker of the US House and as a US Senator from Maine.
The house is the only surviving example of the large mansions, built during the late 1800s, that once surrounded Dupont Circle. After Blaine, the house's other notable owner was inventor and entrepreneur George Westinghouse, who bought the home in 1901 and resided there until his death in 1914.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
Within Dupont Circle and Massachusetts Avenue Historic Districts
]]>The Embassy of Iraq's consular office, also known as the Boardman House, was built in 1893 following designs by Hornblower & Marshall. William J. Boardman and his family were the first occupants. Boardman's daughter, Mabel, led the American Red Cross in the early 20th century and continued to live in the home until her death in 1946. Since 1962 (except when diplomatic ties were severed from 1991 to 2003), the building has served as the diplomatic mission of Iraq.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
Within Dupont Circle Historic District and Massachusetts Avenue Historic District
]]>The Walsh-McLean House is an eclectic mansion with Renaissance, Baroque, Louis XVI and Art Nouveau elements and designed by Danish-born and New York architect Henry Anderson in 1903. The house is one of many magnificent mansions constructed in the early 1900s in this area of Massachusetts Avenue near Dupont Circle. The house was built for Thomas F. Walsh, owner of the Camp Bird Mine in Ouray, Colorado, and reputed to be one of the richest men in the world. Later, the house served as the residence of his daughter, Evalyn Walsh McLean, society figure and owner of the Hope Diamond. She lived there with her husband, Edward B. McLean, who was the editor of the Washington Post and an influential Republican. The house was purchased by the Indonesian government in 1951 and continues to serve as the Indonesian Embassy.
The mansion sits on a stone-faced base of rusticated granite capped by a blind limestone balustrade. The upper walls of glazed tan Roman brick are divided by two limestone string courses. The house also features undulating buff brick, limestone, and terra cotta facades. The interiors include an elaborate "steamship" stair hall, a skylit organ room, parlors, and a conservatory.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: January 18, 1973
Within Dupont Circle Historic District and Massachusetts Avenue Historic District
]]>Wadsworth House is a Grand Adamesque mansion, one of only two remaining on Dupont Circle. Built between 1900 and 1901, the house was the winter residence of millionaire gentleman farmer Herbert Wadsworth (1851-1927) from western New York, and his accomplished wife Martha Blow Wadsworth (1863-1934). Wadsworth House is an enduring reminder of the elegance of Washington society at the turn of the century and is the only known Washington work of noted Buffalo architect George Cary.
The facades are light yellow Roman brick with a cream-colored terra cotta trim. The house features eclectic interiors designed for entertaining: an Arts & Crafts entrance hall, Colonial Revival reception rooms, and a lavish Beaux-Arts ballroom. Originally the home included an "automobile room," serving as one of the city's first internal garages. The house was purchased by the Sulgrave Club and remodeled in 1932 with designs from architect Frederick Brooke.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: December 5, 1972
Within Dupont Circle Historic District and Massachusetts Avenue Historic District
]]>The Townsend House is one of the many elegant and often ostentatious mansions built along Massachusetts Avenue in the early decades of the 20th century. Completed in 1900 for Richard H. Townsend, a railway magnate, the mansion was designed by the well-known firm of Carrère and Hastings. Reflecting the taste of the period, the house incorporates Louis XV elements on a Beaux-Arts style facade. The Cosmos Club, a club whose membership includes distinguished men in the fields of science, literature and the arts, purchased the house in 1950.
The Townsend House, which incorporated the walls of the Hillyer House, was begun in 1898 and completed in 1900. The earlier house was built in 1873 by Curtis Justin Hillyer, an attorney engaged in mining speculation in California and Colorado. It is said that part of the Hillyer House was incorporated in the new mansion due to Mary Scott Townsend's superstitious fear of inhabiting a totally new home.
The house is named for Richard H. Townsend, who died in 1902, but his wife, coal and railroad heiress Mary Scott Townsend, continued to live there with her daughter, Mathilde, until 1931. The house was long at the center of Washington social activity, and it was said that Mrs. Townsend spent as much as $240,000 a year—the equivalent of more than $7 million today—for entertainment.
After Mrs. Townsend's death, Mathilde inherited the property, and it was during her ownership that the mansion became the temporary residence of Franklin Delano Roosevelt for a few weeks before he entered the White House. During World War II, in January 1942, the American Women's Volunteer service used the stables as a canteen. In 1943 the above group moved out, land the house was occupied by the Canadian Women's Army Corps Headquarters Detachment. In 1950, the house was purchased by the Cosmos Club, who maintain ownership today.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: April 3, 1973
Within Massachusetts Avenue and Dupont Circle Historic Districts
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