Because of difficulties in land acquisition, the building was conceived from the start as a phased development; how appropriate that modernization progresses in phases today. Notice to proceed with the first phase of construction was given in 1930, which saw the rise of wings four and five and the connecting segments. The connecting segments came to be known as the Headhouse (Independence Avenue) and the Tailhouse (C Street) respectively. The scope of the second phase, which included everything west of wing five and much of what is east of wing four, began in 1932 with completion in 1935. Concluding in 1936, the last portion of construction featured two connecting pedestrian bridges, which link the South Building to the Whitten Building. The cafeteria, popular with tourists, was added circa 1970. The metro stop on the corner of Independence Avenue and 12 Street opened in the late seventies and practically brings pedestrian traffic into the building.

The stripped classic style is ornamented with variegated brick, limestone, and terra cotta details in unique combination. The building is distinguished too by its size, said to be the largest office building in the world, until the construction of the Pentagon in 1942.

Because of funding, war, and politics, the construction of the Whitten Building, as we know it today, spanned a period of nearly thirty years. The building was designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Rankin, Kellogg and Crane. Eventually, the entire building was constructed according to their neo-classical design. It is the only cabinet level agency building located directly on the mall.

Because Congress reduced the original requested appropriation from $2.5 million to $1.5 million in 1903, only the east and west laboratory buildings were funded to consolidate the Department’s expanding research and development programs. Early twentieth century idealized illustrations, depict sheep grazing between the two, L-shaped, laboratory buildings.

Finally, in 1926 Congress appropriated $2 million to fund the central Administration building. Completed in 1930, the Administration building has housed every Secretary since. The building was renamed the Jamie L. Whitten Building (Public Law 103-404), in June 1995. Congressman Whitten of Mississippi, served as Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

The Sidney R. Yates building, formerly the Auditors Main Building, is actually a collection of buildings which shrank as the Holocaust Memorial Museum grew. In 1985 the Museum demolished the South Annex to expand its site and in 1987 took over the West Annex for office space.

Modernized between 1987 and 1990 for the USDA Forest Service, the Yates building is the oldest of the buildings which comprise the Agriculture complex. It was completed in 1880 for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s operations. Described as Romanesque in style, the red brick clock tower is the dominate exterior architectural feature. The interior is distinguished by an ornamental cast iron and brass staircase. A stable, laundry, and other dependencies were subsequently added. Electrified in 1888, the original building was expanded in 1891 as the Bureau quickly outgrew their quarters. In 1915, the main building was renovated to house the Auditors division; hence, its name.

In January 1999, the Auditors Main Building was redesignated the Sidney R. Yates Federal Building, Public Law 105-277, to honor the Congressman from Illinois who served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies.

The Cotton Annex was completed and dedicated in 1937. The structure built is the northwest quadrant of the original design, which featured a C-shaped plan with an exterior court yard. Standing seven and a half stories, the building functioned as office and warehouse space. Warehouses were located on the half or mezzanine floors. The warehouse levels were converted, circa 1970, to office space and function as such today. The exterior facade is void of ornamentation. The most decorative elevation faces 12th Street, which is composed of several shades of brick ranging from buff tan to darker brown. The architectural style might be best described as stripped classicism.

George Washington Carver Center

The Department of Agriculture’s George Washington Carver Center is a campus consisting of four interconnected buildings which occupy about 45 acres of Federal land in Beltsville, Maryland. The land is located within the 6500-acre Beltsville Agriculture Research Center (BARC). The George Washington Carver Center operates as a headquarters facility and is an extension of USDA’s main DC complex located in Washington, DC.

In October 1999 a week long dedication was held to honor George Washington Carver. The week was highlighted by the dedication ceremony on October 6, 1999, when the Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, officially named the facility The George Washington Carver Center.