A Closer Look at Modern Federal Buildings

A Closer Look at Modern Federal Buildings

Between 1949 and 1979, the U.S. General Services Administration completed more than 700 building projects across the United States. During this time, many of the federal buildings completed incorporated the most current technological and architectural elements in their layout and construction. Today, the design of these federal buildings remains as examples of each era’s trends and technology, painting a picture of the United States’ dreams and goals throughout the years.

Federal Center

The Federal Center located in Chicago, IL, features a minimalist steel-and-glass design. Envisioned by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this federal complex covers two city blocks and was completed in 1974. The Federal Center incorporates some of Mies’ favorite design elements, such as sleek vertical lines, black graphite paint, and a 28-foot flooring grid pattern that all combine to create a monumental structure that exudes confidence and authority. One of the complex’s most recognized areas is the glass-enclosed great hall in the center of the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse building, which creates an architectural and visual gateway that allows those at ground level to look directly through the complex.

John F. Kennedy Federal Building

Boston’s John F. Kennedy Federal Building was designed by The Architects Collaborative, the architectural firm of Walter Gropius. This teamwork-oriented firm came together to create a one-building complex comprised of two 26-story towers and one four-story building, which is connected to the towers by an enclosed walkway. Faced with polished granite on the lower stories, the towers rise resolutely upward with walls of pre-cast concrete. Gropius and his fellow architects continued the use of concrete around the building as well, placing artistic concrete structures and sculptures throughout its ground-level plaza, which takes up more than half of the building’s 4.6-acre footprint.

Sears Gerbo Architecture of Tucson specializes in architectural design, facility programming, and equipment planning in federal buildings, manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and corporate offices. You can reach us by phone at (520) 722-5079, or click through our website for additional information about our clients and services.