Which architects designed government buildings in Washington D.C.?

Answer 1

Washington DC has a complex and rich history of architectural involvement. Beginning with the design and planning of the actual city by Pierre Charles L'Enfant the city then used a number of different architects to complete the design by designing the specific buildings.

One reason for the extensive collaboration and the use of large committees of architects to design buildings was the relatively immature state of architectural skills in the United States at the time.

The US Capital Building

In spring 1792, a design competition identified a submission by Stephen Hallet, a trained French architect. However, Hallet's designs were overly fancy, with too much French influence, and were deemed too costly. A late entry by amateur architect William Thornton was praised for its "Grandeur, Simplicity, and Beauty" Thornton's design was officially approved in a letter, dated April 5, 1793, from Washington.

In July 1793, Jefferson convened a five-member commission, bringing Hallet and Thornton together, along with James Hoban, to address problems with and revise Thornton's plan. The original design by Thornton was later modified by Benjamin Henry Latrobe and then Charles Bulfinch. The current dome and the House and Senate wings were designed by Thomas U. Walter and August Schoenborn.

The White House

The architect of the White House was chosen in a design competition. George Washington traveled to the site of the federal city on July 16, 1792, to make his judgment. His review is recorded as being brief, and he quickly selected the submission of James Hoban, an Irishman living in Charleston, South Carolina. Washington was not entirely pleased with the original Hoban submission, however; he found it too small, lacking ornament, and not fitting the nation's president. On Washington's recommendation the house was enlarged by thirty percent and a large reception hall, the present East Room, was added.

The FBI Building
Congress approved a separate FBI building in April, 1962. The General Services Administration (GSA), which handled public building construction selected Charles F. Murphy and Associates, Chicago, Illinois, as architects, and Berswenger, Hoch, Arnold and Associates, Akron, Ohio, for engineering.

Supreme Court
The Supreme Court Building, constructed between 1932 and 1935, was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert.

Library of Congress - Jefferson Building

The Thomas Jefferson Building - was opened in 1897. The John Adams Building was completed in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980. The design of the Jefferson Building was by architects John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz.

DAR Constitution Hall

The hall was built in 1929 and was designed by architect John Russell Pope.

National Archives Building

In 1926 Congress finally approved the National Archives Building. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon gave the responsibility for the design to a Board of Architectural Consultants. Louis A. Simon, the Supervisory Architect of the Treasury Department, drafted the preliminary design for the Archives. However, this was viewed as simplistic and unimaginative. John Russell Pope was added to the Board of Architectural Consultants and he design the National Archives that we see today.

Ronald Reagan Building

The building, designed by James Ingo Freed (of the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners) and Ellerbe Becket began construction in 1996.

U.S. Naval Observatory

Established by order of Secretary of the Navy, the Observatory rose from humble beginnings. Initially it was placed under the command of Lieutenant Louis M. Goldsborough, In 1842 Lieutenant James Melville Gilliss was put in charge of the project, which was completed in 1844.


The Pentagon (located across the Potomac River in Arlington VA.)

The architectural history of the Pentagon is unique in that construction and design happened simultaneously. In fact there were times when construction got ahead of design and complications ensued. The Pentagon was designed by the American architect George Bergstrom (with later help from David Witmer) and built by John McShain. Construction started September 11, 1941 and the building was dedicated on January 15, 1943.



Of course there are many other important federal government building in Washington DC and they each have their own history.


For more on each of the buildings mentioned and on Pierre L'Enfant see the related links.

Answer 2

The buildings in Washington DC were not designed by all the same people. There were many different designers that kept to the original concept of the designs that were first started.