Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building is a federal office building in Washington, D.C., which serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Education.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
Map
Former namesFederal Office Building 6 (FOB 6)
General information
Architectural styleModernist
Address400 Maryland Ave SW
Town or cityWashington, D.C.
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38°53′12″N 77°01′08″W / 38.886717°N 77.018787°W / 38.886717; -77.018787
Current tenantsDepartment of Education
Named forLyndon B. Johnson
Construction started1959
Completed1961
InauguratedDecember 7, 1961
Renovated1995–96
Cost$14 million (1958 budget)
OwnerGeneral Services Administration
Technical details
MaterialConcrete
Size643,000 square feet (59,700 m2)
Floor count7
Design and construction
Architect(s)
Main contractorMcCloskey and Company (Philadelphia)
References
Application for Historic Landmark[1]

History edit

Construction of the building started in 1959 and concluded in 1961; it was originally known as Federal Office Building 6 (FOB 6).[2] The building was initially used by NASA and the then Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW).[2] In 1979, occupancy of the building was given to the newly formed Department of Education.[2] The building also houses the National Library of Education,[3] which was established in 1995.[4][5]

Ernest L. Boyer, U.S. Commissioner of Education in the late 1970s, sought to have the building renamed—he suggested it be named after Horace Mann—but the name remained Federal Office Building 6.[6] In 2007, the building was renamed in honor of Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th president of the United States.[7][8][9]

 
President George W. Bush signing H.R. 584 on March 23, 2007, naming the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building

References edit

  1. ^ "Application for Historic Landmark or Historic District Designation" (PDF). January 24, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2019 – via planning.dc.gov.
  2. ^ a b c "Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building History". gsa.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "LBJ Building Architecture Gallery". gsa.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  4. ^ "Pressler nominates librarians to task force". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 2, 1995. p. 2D. Retrieved April 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Books and More". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. April 25, 1995. p. B3. Retrieved April 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "FOB 6? Building name embarrasses commissioner". Albany Democrat-Herald. Albany, Oregon. July 31, 1978. p. 16. Retrieved April 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "President Bush Signs H.R. 584, Designates U.S. Department of Education as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Federal Building". Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  8. ^ "Johnson family celebrates honor". Austin American-Statesman. May 31, 2007. p. B2. Retrieved April 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Tribute to the 'education president'". Austin American-Statesman. September 18, 2007. p. A2. Retrieved April 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.

External links edit