The Richards Building was the headquarters of the

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications ...

from 1871 to 1929. It was located in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

on a block immediately south of the

United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...

. It was demolished in 1929 to construct the

Longworth House Office Building The Longworth House Office Building (LHOB) is one of five office buildings used by the United States House of Representatives. The building is located south of the Capitol, bounded by Independence Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, C Street S.E., and Sou ...

Architecture

The Building was designed by

Adolf Cluss Adolf Ludwig Cluss (July 14, 1825 – July 24, 1905) also known as Adolph Cluss was a German-born American immigrant who became one of the most important, influential and prolific architects in Washington, D.C., in the late 19th century, respons ...

. It consisted of two connected units, a Main Building to the east facing New Jersey Avenue, and a Back Building facing

South Capitol Street South Capitol Street is a major street dividing the southeast and southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C., in the United States. It runs south from the United States Capitol to the D.C.–Maryland line, intersecting with Southern Avenue. After it ...

. The exterior of the Main Building was in the ''

Rundbogenstil (round-arch style) is a nineteenth-century historic revival style of architecture popular in the German-speaking lands and the German diaspora. It combines elements of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture with particular ...

'' style, with red brick walls, brown stone trim, and a red, blue, and green patterned slate roof. It was designed with abundant windows and an innovative ventilation system.

History

The building was constructed by A. and T. A. Richards in 1871 and rented to the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The builders structured the building in the form of a hotel with many small rooms, so it could be used as such if the government did not renew its initial 10-year lease. This caused difficulties as the layout was not well suited to functions such as a printing and lithographic plant, and machine and carpenter shop. The building was not considered to be sufficiently fire-proof, so when the neighboring

Butler Building The Butler Building was a mansion in Washington, D.C., constructed by Benjamin Franklin Butler. It served as the headquarters of the U.S. Marine Hospital Service, and its successor the Public Health Service, from 1891 until 1929. It also contai ...

was constructed as a residence in 1873, the superintendent requested that a portion of that building be constructed to be fire-proof so that it could be rented as storage for valuable and irreplaceable survey records, maps, and engraving plates. The government purchased the Richards Building outright in 1891. By 1916, the building was considered so inadequate that

Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

William C. Redfield reported to Congress that, "were there such a function as a public incendiary, these buildings are among the first that should receive his official attention." In 1929, the Coast and Geodetic Survey moved to the

Department of Commerce Building The Herbert C. Hoover Building is the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the United States Department of Commerce. The building is located at 1401 Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., on the block bounded by Constitution Avenue NW to ...

, and the Richards Building was demolished to construct the

References

{{Reflist United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Demolished buildings and structures in Washington, D.C. Government buildings in Washington, D.C. Buildings and structures completed in 1871 Buildings and structures demolished in 1929