Ariel Rios Building
Encyclopedia
The Ariel Rios Federal Building is located in the Federal Triangle
in Washington, D.C.
, across 12th Street from the Old Post Office, which the new building was designed to replace.
The New Post Office, as the Rios Building was originally known, housed the headquarters of the Post Office Department
until that department was replaced by the United States Postal Service
in 1971.
The building, which now houses the headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
, was renamed on February 5, 1985, in honor of Ariel Rios
, an undercover
special agent
for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
who was killed in the line of duty on December 2, 1982.
The Rios Building was constructed in the early 1930s as part of the redevelopment of the Federal Triangle area. At that time one of the city's most blighted neighborhoods, this area was known as "Murder Bay" and was a center of crime and prostitution.
The plan for the area's redevelopment was laid out as part of the 1901 McMillan Plan
, the first federally funded urban redevelopment plan, and the redevelopment of Federal Triangle began in earnest in the 1930s under the leadership of Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon
. Construction on the Rios Building was completed in 1934.
The Ariel Rios Building was a central feature of the redevelopment. The neoclassical
building was designed by architects William Adams Delano
and Chester Holmes Aldrich
, who took as their inspiration the Place Vendôme
in Paris.
The central section of the tri-unit building consists of two huge, back to back, semicircular units with side wings. The semicircle formed by the building's curve on its eastern façade was to be mirrored by a similarly curved façade built across 12th Street on the site of the Old Post Office Building.
Secretary Mellon's building commission actively sought the demolition of the Old Post Office to fulfill that plan, but preservation efforts—which continued over the course of 50 years—saved the Old Post Office. The second half of the grand plaza was never finished as designed, save for a curve in the northwest corner of the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service
. (The Ronald Reagan Building
, completed in 1998, does mirror, to some degree, the semicircle of the west façade of the Rios Building.)
The exterior is decorated with bas relief panels, by Adolph Alexander Weinman
.
The Rios Building has been refurbished with the architectural details of the hallways preserved in the style of the 1920s and 1930s. A seven-story marble spiral staircase is a prominent element of the building's interior. A chandelier hangs in the center of the staircase and has exposed bulbs to illuminate each floor. It terminates in a dramatic chrome and brass globe.
(an art commissioning program similar to the Federal Arts Project operated by the Works Progress Administration
). This was among the first locations for the integration of murals in federal buildings for New Deal Era federal art programs.
Visitors and federal employees at the Ariel Rios Federal Building have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of six of these murals, including complaints that the murals stereotype Native Americans and that they contain images that are inappropriate for the workplace. Controversy over the murals is not new: The nudity depicted in the murals led to complaints when the murals were originally created.
In 1998, the limestone facade was renovated.
In 2007, the south courtyard was renovated.
Federal Triangle
The Federal Triangle is a triangular area in Washington, D.C. formed by 15th Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and E Street NW. Federal Triangle is occupied by 10 large city and federal office buildings, all of which are part of the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, across 12th Street from the Old Post Office, which the new building was designed to replace.
The New Post Office, as the Rios Building was originally known, housed the headquarters of the Post Office Department
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
until that department was replaced by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
in 1971.
The building, which now houses the headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, was renamed on February 5, 1985, in honor of Ariel Rios
Ariel Rios
Ariel Rios was an undercover special agent for the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , killed in the line of duty. Member of the Presidential anti-drug task force in South Florida....
, an undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
special agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
who was killed in the line of duty on December 2, 1982.
History
The plan for the area's redevelopment was laid out as part of the 1901 McMillan Plan
McMillan Plan
The McMillan Plan was an architectural plan for the development of Washington, D.C., formulated in 1902 by the Senate Park Improvement Commission of the District of Columbia which had been formed by Congress the previous year.-United States Park Commission:...
, the first federally funded urban redevelopment plan, and the redevelopment of Federal Triangle began in earnest in the 1930s under the leadership of Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon
Andrew W. Mellon
Andrew William Mellon was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and Secretary of the Treasury from March 4, 1921 until February 12, 1932.-Early life:...
. Construction on the Rios Building was completed in 1934.
The Ariel Rios Building was a central feature of the redevelopment. The neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building was designed by architects William Adams Delano
William Adams Delano
William Adams Delano , an American architect, was a partner with Chester Holmes Aldrich in the firm of Delano & Aldrich. The firm worked in the Beaux-Arts tradition for elite clients in New York City, Long Island and elsewhere, building townhouses, country houses, clubs, banks and buildings for...
and Chester Holmes Aldrich
Chester Holmes Aldrich
Chester Holmes Aldrich was an American architect and director of the American Academy in Rome from 1935 until his death in 1940.-Early life:...
, who took as their inspiration the Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the...
in Paris.
The central section of the tri-unit building consists of two huge, back to back, semicircular units with side wings. The semicircle formed by the building's curve on its eastern façade was to be mirrored by a similarly curved façade built across 12th Street on the site of the Old Post Office Building.
Secretary Mellon's building commission actively sought the demolition of the Old Post Office to fulfill that plan, but preservation efforts—which continued over the course of 50 years—saved the Old Post Office. The second half of the grand plaza was never finished as designed, save for a curve in the northwest corner of the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. (The Ronald Reagan Building
Ronald Reagan Building
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, named after former United States President Ronald Reagan, is the first federal building in Washington, D.C. designed for both governmental and private sector purposes....
, completed in 1998, does mirror, to some degree, the semicircle of the west façade of the Rios Building.)
The exterior is decorated with bas relief panels, by Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman was an American sculptor, born in Karlsruhe, Germany.- Biography :Weinman arrived in the United States at the age of 10. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union and later studied at the Art Students League of New York with sculptors Augustus St....
.
The Rios Building has been refurbished with the architectural details of the hallways preserved in the style of the 1920s and 1930s. A seven-story marble spiral staircase is a prominent element of the building's interior. A chandelier hangs in the center of the staircase and has exposed bulbs to illuminate each floor. It terminates in a dramatic chrome and brass globe.
Murals
The building contains 25 murals created under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and SculptureSection of Painting and Sculpture
The Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture , commonly known as "the Section," was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the United States Department of the Treasury....
(an art commissioning program similar to the Federal Arts Project operated by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
). This was among the first locations for the integration of murals in federal buildings for New Deal Era federal art programs.
Visitors and federal employees at the Ariel Rios Federal Building have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of six of these murals, including complaints that the murals stereotype Native Americans and that they contain images that are inappropriate for the workplace. Controversy over the murals is not new: The nudity depicted in the murals led to complaints when the murals were originally created.
Renovation
In 1993, the building was renovated.In 1998, the limestone facade was renovated.
In 2007, the south courtyard was renovated.
External links
- "Ariel Rios Building, Washington, D.C." (official General Services AdministrationGeneral Services AdministrationThe General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
site) - wikimapia