Rayburn House Office Building

The Rayburn House Office Building (RHOB), named after former Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, is located between South Capitol Street and First Street in Southwest Washington, D.C.

Related Topics:
Speaker of the House - Sam Rayburn - Washington, D.C.

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The newest of three U.S. House of Representatives office buildings, the Rayburn House Office Building was completed in early 1965 and is home to the offices of 169 Representatives. Earlier efforts to provide space for the House of Representatives had included the construction of the Cannon Building and the Longworth Building. In March 1955, House Speaker Sam Rayburn introduced an amendment for a third House office building, although no site had been identified, no architectural study had been done, and no plans prepared. The Architect of the Capitol, J. George Stewart, with the approval of the House Office Building Commission, selected the firm of Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larson of Philadelphia to design a simplified, classical building in architectural harmony with other Capitol Hill structures.

Related Topics:
U.S. House of Representatives - 1965 - Cannon Building - Longworth Building - 1955 - Architect of the Capitol - J. George Stewart - House Office Building Commission - Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larson - Philadelphia - Capitol Hill

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The area west of the Longworth Building on squares 635 and 636 was chosen, with the main entrance on Independence Avenue and garage and pedestrian entrances on South Capitol Street, C Street, and First Street SW. The cornerstone was laid in May 1962, and full occupancy of the 2,375,000 square foot (220,600 m²) building began in February 1965. The Congressional Subway, an underground transportation system, connects the building to the Capitol and pedestrian tunnels join it to all of the Congressional office buildings on Capitol Hill.

Related Topics:
Independence Avenue - Cornerstone - 1962 - 1965 - Congressional Subway - Capitol - Capitol Hill

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