Grant_Building.pdf

GRANT BUILDING

The Armed Forces E-etirement I-Iome

Washington, DC

SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE GRANT BUlL lNG

The Armed Forces Retirement Home, formerly knoyvn as The U.S Soldiers' and Airmen's Home is located on property straddling th! border between the northeast and northwest quadrants of the city of Washington, D.C The Grant Building is a marble faced dormitory structure located in the northernmo~t corner of the property, just south of the intersection of Rock Creek and Harewood Roadj N.W. The building is situated immediately north of a small historic district which 8elineates the original, historic core

• I of the home

The Grant Building is a large, three-story, rectangul r shaped building with a central court from its second through fourth floors. Plans f~r its erection were debated as early as the late 191h century; however, it was not until 19f·6 that construction was actually begun. The work was completed six years later, in 912. The architects, Baldwin and Pennington of Baltimore, designed the handsome st~ucture not only to house the members (as the residents of the Home were known), but also to provide a mess hall.

The Grant Building has continued to serve as a dornritory since its construction However, in 1954, the kitchen, which was located irl the one-story courtyard addition, was closed, and the dining area was converted to us~ as a gymnasium.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Grant Building is a significant contributing ele ent, both in architectural and cultural terms, to the historical context of the Soldie~s' Home. Constructed at a time when monies were willingly spent on grand public architecture and displays of appreciation, the building stands as a monument notlonly to Ulysses S. Grant, for whom it was named, but also to the many unnamed US w~r veterans which it has housed.

I Architecturally, the Grant Building has threefold significance: 1) as contributing structure to the overall history and character of the $oldier's Home, 2) as the work of Baldwin and Pennington, and 3) as a fine example df Renaissance Revival architecture The building was designed specifically to be compatible with historic structures in the Home's historic core. Its architectural execution is both impressive and elegant, retlecting in age when the City Beautiful Movemen~ was prevalent across the country, and when construction of grand public buildings was at a height.

Furthermore, the Grant Building is an excellent exa~ple of the work of the locally well known and respected architectural office of Bald wiry and Pennington. This office was responsible for the design of dozens of public buildilngs in Maryland and the District of Columbia, many of which are locally and/or federally registered landmarks.

Historically, the Grant Building has been integral Jthe housing of the Home's members since 1910. Upon completion of the structure in 1912, it was the largest building at the [--lome, with dormitory space for 400 men and dinin~ facilities for 2,400. It was equipped with the most modern improvements, including plulnbing and elevators. It was continued to serve its original function of housing members.

Although the building is not within the boundaries Jfthe National Register Historic District or the National Historic Landmark, its history and design make an important contribution to an understanding of the overall signircance of the Home.

SUMMARY OF BUILDING CONDITION I

Today, the Grant Building is in generally stable con~itions, although certain areas and rnaterials show expected wear and overuse

I Nearly all of the original exterior fabric is extant although in some cases it is in need of cleaning and repair. The only, minor, alterations to the exterior are found on the north elevation. None of these al terations has impaired h' storic bui Id ing fabric.

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In the interior, the building again shows normal wear, a function of use and of the level of maintenance that the building has received. Perhap~ the most significant alteration to the building occurred when the dining hall was convert~d to a fitness center and bowling alley In general, deterioration or alterations have aJllowed interior materials to remain in place, relatively undamaged.

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Partial Site Map of USSAl-f, showing location of: Grant Building (USSAH) Fig. 1.2

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THIRD FLOOR

( Second Floor is similar)

#18 GRANT BUILDING

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Grant Building Fact Sheet

Built: 1910

Square Feet I Ceiling Height for Rooms and General Spaces. Does NOT include corridors and bathrooms.

Sq.Ft. Ceiling Hgt.

First Floor: 43,800 24' -0" Mezzanine: 8,000 11'-0" Second Floor: 34,300 13' -6" Third Floor: 34,300 13' -6"

Total 120,400

Floor load capacity:

First Floor:

General Storage: 64 Ibs.lsf* Storage 107 lbs Isf* Open Space 77 lbs Isf*

Second and Third Floors: Unknown

Square feet per Room Types:

Type "A" Room: 24' -4" x 31'-4" = 762.sf** Type "B" Room: 23'-8" x 18'-0" =' 426 sf** Type "C" Room: 12'-0" x 18"-0" = 216 sf** Type "D" Room: 15'-6" x 16'-0" = 248 sf**

* See First Floor plan for the location(s) of the space.

** See Third Floor plan for the locations of the room type.

ED/PD-0027L. REAL PROPERTY hECORD I

2. Desigoatibn _Gqn Bldq, _ ] 8 J.

4. Designed ~arpcity 3 ' e

I NQ.6. Uni t of MTasure ~_ 7.S. J69,006

9. FIRE PROTECTIQN

fl ~IR CONDIT lliG I

d. Nt,J.ll1oera. Type

b. Typeb. CapClcity

c. Sg Yd Ai r Cond _ I

11, BUILDING PIME SION10. TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION

a. M~in Bldg L29''J.'' 170')"a. Pc rrna 0 n t -.aX _

\). E; Vest. 2...9....:2." x".,2.l./.8_'..!>IG~" _ b :emi Permanent

c. w: Vest.c. Temporary

d. Entrance

e. Abtic

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13. 401' WAT,FcF~....ll-'......I..l..u.....I~/.l..!.12.

a. CC\paci ty . _ ;'1. Source h, Temperature Riseb, Fu 1

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1.~). OTIfER MEASUREMI;:NT,11. NO. USABLE fLOORS

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17. TYPE OF CARDlh 1"!1\TERIM.. S

I. 1 .a. l3u 1 d 1 og ~X>.,l,.C"--' _

b. Util Dist. ,:.>ys em

c. Mise str d, Railroad

e. La,nd [. Surfaced At as a, h.

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d.

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'apaci t:yNumber [1 . wotc;r ]

b. "ewer 3

c. Electrici.ty 'J.()8 v.

f. Condensate 1

g. Hot Water

h. HW Return 1

19. REMARKS ~ilt 1910-12 Roof: 70% Slate QD~~~ _ .3JtL...C.cnW_fu: _masooary base. 89 Ft Radiat iQo-18 « 540.