Pentagon (building)

Pentagon (building)
Touch Of Light · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Pentagon
Caption	The Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense.
Location	Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Coordinates	38, 52, 15, N...
Start date	September 11, 1941
Completion date	January 15, 1943
Inauguration date	April 30, 1942
Architect	George Bergstrom
Structural engineer	John McShain
Owner	United States Department of Defense
Floor count	7 (5 above ground, 2 mezzanine/basement)
Floor area	6,636,360 sq ft (616,500 m²)
Website	https://pentagontours.osd.mil

Pentagon (building). The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. As one of the world's largest office buildings, it serves as a symbol of the United States Armed Forces and houses the senior leadership of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and United States Marine Corps. Its unique five-sided design and immense scale were born from the urgent needs of World War II, consolidating the War Department's scattered offices.

History

The decision to construct a new headquarters was driven by the rapid expansion of the War Department under President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the prelude to World War II. Brigadier General Brehon B. Somervell conceived the project in July 1941, demanding a massive, efficient structure to be built with great speed. The groundbreaking occurred on September 11, 1941, and the building was substantially completed in just 16 months, with employees beginning to occupy offices in April 1942. Throughout the Cold War, it became the nerve center for American military strategy, overseeing conflicts from the Korean War to the Gulf War. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Design and construction

Architect George Bergstrom developed the distinctive pentagonal layout to fit the irregular tract of land originally selected along the Potomac River, though the final site in Arlington County offered more space. The design optimized office space and minimized walking distances between departments, featuring five concentric rings connected by spoke-like corridors. General contractor John McShain led the accelerated construction, which utilized vast quantities of concrete and Indiana limestone and was prioritized as a critical wartime project. Innovations included the use of ramps instead of elevators and a structural design that would later prove resilient.

Layout and facilities

The building consists of five concentric pentagonal rings labeled A through E from the center outward, connected by ten radial corridors. This configuration creates nearly 18 miles of corridors, yet the maximum walking distance between any two points is only about 10 minutes. It houses approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and contains a vast array of facilities, including a memorial chapel, multiple dining halls, retail stores, and a Metro station entrance. The central five-acre courtyard, known as Ground Zero, is one of the largest open spaces within the complex.

Role and operations

As the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, the building is the command center for the United States Armed Forces. Key offices include those of the United States Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the service secretaries for the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force. It functions as a critical node for national security, coordinating global military operations, intelligence analysis, and defense policy formulation. Major commands, such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and parts of the National Security Agency, also maintain significant presences within its rings.

Security and incidents

Security at the Pentagon, managed by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, is extremely stringent, involving multiple layers of access control and surveillance. The most devastating incident occurred on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77, hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists, was crashed into the building's western facade, killing 184 people and causing significant damage. The subsequent reconstruction included a dedicated National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Other notable incidents include a 1972 bombing by the Weather Underground and a 2010 shooting incident at the main entrance.

In popular culture

The Pentagon's imposing stature and secretive nature have made it a frequent setting and subject in films, literature, and television. It is famously depicted in movies like Dr. Strangelove, The Sum of All Fears, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. In television, it features prominently in series such as The West Wing and NCIS. Numerous Tom Clancy novels, including The Hunt for Red October, use the building as a backdrop for military and political thrillers, cementing its image as the ultimate symbol of American military power and intrigue.

Category:Buildings and structures in Arlington County, Virginia Category:United States Department of Defense Category:National Historic Landmarks in Virginia