| US General Accounting Office Building | |
| Coordinates: | 38.8984°N -77.0175°W |
| Built: | 1951 |
| Architecture: | Modern |
| Added: | September 21, 1995 |
| Refnum: | 95001086 |
The U.S. Government Accounting Office Building is an historic government office building, the headquarters of the Government Accountability Office located at 441 G Street NW in Washington, D.C., adjacent to the National Building Museum.[1]
Unique in its "block style" design, federal office buildings before central air conditioning were designed with interior courtyards and wings, to allow for maximum ventilation and light. While the initial 1941 design utilized a "fish bone" style, with a central spine and interior courtyards, WWII placed the project on hold while technology advanced.
In 1946, an updated, novel "solid building" design made headlines. Untested, planning officials wondered whether such a structure would prove claustrophobic for employees.[2] It was dedicated on September 11, 1951, by President Harry S. Truman. The building also serves as headquarters for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.