Russell Senate Office Building

Russell Senate Office Building
This photograph, taken from southwest of the building, shows the main entrance along Constitution Avenue, N.E.
Location within Washington, D.C.
General information
Status	Complete
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
Location	United States Capitol Complex
Town or city	Washington, D.C.
Country	United States
Coordinates	38°53′34″N 77°0′25″W / 38.89278°N 77.00694°W / 38.89278; -77.00694Coordinates: 38°53′34″N 77°0′25″W / 38.89278°N 77.00694°W / 38.89278; -77.00694
Construction started	1903
Opened	March 5, 1909
Technical details
Material	Marble and Limestone
Grounds	698,921 square feet (64,931.9 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Edward Clark
Architecture firm	Carrère and Hastings

The Russell Senate Office Building is the oldest of the United States Senate office buildings. Designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, it was built from 1903 to 1908, opened in 1909, and named for former Senator Richard Brevard Russell, Jr. of Georgia in 1972. It occupies a site north of the Capitol bounded by Constitution Avenue, First Street, Delaware Avenue, and C Street N.E.

The first congressional office building was constructed immediately after the turn of the 20th century to relieve overcrowding in the United States Capitol. Previously, members who wanted office space had to rent quarters or borrow space in committee rooms. In March 1901 Congress authorized Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark to draw plans for fireproof office buildings adjacent to the Capitol grounds. In March 1903 the acquisition of sites and construction of the buildings were authorized, and the Senate Office Building Commission selected a site.

In April 1904, the prominent New York City architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings was retained. John Carrère took charge of the Senate Office Building project, while Thomas Hastings oversaw the construction of an almost identical office building (now named the Cannon House Office Building) for the United States House of Representatives. Their Beaux Arts designs were restrained complements to the Capitol. Architecturally, their elevations are divided into a rusticated base and a colonnade with an entablature and balustrade. The Constitution AV side is a quasi replica of the easternmost façade of the Palais du Louvre in Paris . The colonnades, with 34 Doric columns that face the Capitol, are echoed by pilasters on the sides of the buildings. Both buildings are faced with marble and limestone; the Russell Building's base and terrace are gray granite. Modern for their time, they included such facilities as forced-air ventilation systems, steam heat, individual lavatories with hot and cold running water and ice water, telephones, and electricity. Both are connected to the Capitol by underground passages. Originally there were 98 suites and eight committee rooms in the Russell Building; the First Street Wing, completed in 1933, added two committee rooms and 28 suites.