Contemplate the monumental Robert C. Weaver Federal Building before you. This is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD. Its story is one of architectural innovation and a commitment to urban renewal.
HUD’s roots lie in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” program. The department was officially established on September 9 1965. President Johnson signed the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act into law.
Before HUD became a cabinet-level agency it existed as the House and Home Financing Agency. The idea for a dedicated department arose from a 1957 report to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller led this initiative. President John F. Kennedy also supported the concept.
Now look at the building itself. It is named after Dr. Robert C. Weaver the first African American cabinet member. Weaver served as HUD Secretary from 1966 to 1968. He not only broke barriers but also championed policies benefiting all Americans.
Marcel Breuer designed this architectural masterpiece. He was an internationally renowned architect. The Robert C. Weaver Federal Building stands as one of only a dozen institutional buildings Breuer designed in the United States. It is one of two buildings designed by Breuer in Washington.
Construction took place from 1965 to 1968. This building holds the distinction of being the first federal building in the country. It used precast concrete as the primary structural and exterior material. It also pioneered a fully modular design for a federal office building. The project even came in under budget which proved innovative design could be economical.
The building is an example of Expressionist architecture. The design features curving rooflines and walls. Convex or concave surfaces and arched or vaulted spaces add to its unique character.
Notice the massive 10-story building shaped like a curvilinear X. This creates long concave elevations. The structural system is made of exposed load-bearing precast concrete window wall units. Each unit is substantial measuring 3 feet thick. They weigh nearly 13 tons each.
At ground level the building rests on exposed concrete pilotis. These robust pairs taper to a narrow base. Granite-sheathed concrete walls are recessed creating a sheltered loggia.
Step inside. The unfinished concrete walls of the long corridors curve. They conform to the building’s sweeping exterior. Offices line these corridors each with deeply recessed plate-glass windows.
In the entrance lobby the exposed concrete continues. Here you’ll find Oskar Stonorov’s bust of Catherine Bauer Wurster. Wurster was an influential advocate for public housing programs in the 1930s.
The cafeteria features large cast-in-place concrete columns. Curving non-rectilinear forms express the building’s structure. Plate-glass walls blur the separation between the room and the outside loggia.
In 1990 Martha Schwartz redesigned the plaza. Her scheme enlivened the space with low rounded concrete planters. These planters contain grass that doubles as seating. Whimsical lifesaver-shaped canopies of vinyl-covered plastic add a touch of levity.
The Robert C. Weaver Federal Building embodies architectural innovation and urban renewal. Its design symbolizes the federal government’s commitment to housing and community development. It stands as a testament to HUD’s mission and its impact on American society.