Ever feel dwarfed by a building? The Department of Commerce Building II is that kind of structure. It’s massive.
Let me tell you about the Department of Commerce Building II. It is a true behemoth of the Federal Triangle. This building is bound by Constitution Avenue, 14th St, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th St. It opened in 1932. This was during President Herbert Hoover’s lame duck presidency. It was also the depths of the Great Depression.
The Public Buildings Act of 1926 allocated money for government buildings. $17 million was dedicated to the Commerce Building II. In 1929, Hoover laid the cornerstone. He used the same shovel George Washington used for the Capitol Building.
Building II is made of 9 million bricks and Indiana limestone. It boasts 3,300 rooms. Its hallways stretch a fifth of a mile. At the time, it was the largest federal office building. It had 1.8 million square feet of space.
Upon completion, the Department of Commerce Building II needed 3,701 radiators. These radiators weighed 420 tons. Crazy statistics I know.
Now for some fun facts about the Department of Commerce Building II.
A reporter once walked its halls to measure them. A Washington Post reporter walked 7 3/4 miles of hallways. This happened in January 1932. A. N. Wecksler used a pedometer to measure the distance. The editor of the Post furnished the pedometer and watch.
Wecksler spoke to the captain of the guard. Tom Breslin assured him he wouldn’t get lost. There were diagrams posted by every elevator. These diagrams had a star marking your location. Some people seemed lost anyway.
Wecksler registered fatigue. He pitied the messenger boys. He suggested bringing roller skates. Any GoDCers work here? How many miles have you walked?
A. N. Wecksler lived in Columbia Heights. His given name was Abraham. He was born in 1913. He was just 19 when he explored the building. By 1940, he had moved to Houston. He worked as an advertising salesman.
Believe it or not there were alligators once in the Department of Commerce Building II. Three alligators lived in the basement. They had humorous names.
An article from June 24th, 1932, details this. The alligators came from Chicago. They were a gift from the Bureau of Fisheries. Zoo officials refused to house them.
The gators were named Pay Cut, Furlough, and Dismissal. WTF Letting alligators roam loose in the basement?
The building was built on top of an old river bed. A Washington Post article from 1929 mentions this. The river caused water problems during construction.
Years ago, pirates used this river. Proof came when a boat was excavated. This happened during construction of the Revenue Building. Seven pumps were installed to drain the water.
The foundation doesn’t rest on bedrock. Instead, 13,500 concrete piles support the building. Architects say it is as firm as any skyscraper.
Public health officials watched for mosquitoes. They considered using fish to eat larvae. So cool!
So next time you’re here, remember the pirates. Remember the alligators. Remember the reporter. You’re standing in front of a building with a past. The Department of Commerce Building II is more than just an office.