The Pentagon (building)

The Pentagon (building)
source
Name	The Pentagon
Location	Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Architect	George Bergstrom
Client	United States Department of War
Owner	United States federal government
Start date	1941
Completion date	1943
Floor area	6,500,000 sq ft
Style	Neoclassical revival / utilitarian

The Pentagon (building) The Pentagon is the five-sided headquarters of the United States Department of Defense located in Arlington County, Virginia, adjacent to Washington, D.C.. Conceived during World War II under pressure from Franklin D. Roosevelt and executed with participation from designers and contractors linked to George Bergstrom and John McShain, the complex consolidated offices dispersed across sites such as Foggy Bottom, Pentagon City, and wartime facilities in Alexandria, Virginia. The building functions as a nerve center for defense policy linked to institutions including the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force and sits near transport nodes like Interstate 395 (Virginia), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and the Potomac River.

History

Planning traces to shortages of office space for the United States War Department as the United States mobilized for World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson endorsed a centralized headquarters after surveys of sites including Arlington Farm and properties owned by the Washington Gas Light Company. The contract was awarded to contractor John McShain, with architectural oversight by George Bergstrom and consulting from American Institute of Architects. Construction began in 1941 and proceeded rapidly despite material constraints influenced by wartime policies such as allocations overseen by the War Production Board. After completion in 1943, the complex hosted senior leaders from formations like Army Service Forces and entities such as the Office of Strategic Services, evolving administratively alongside postwar reorganizations culminating in the 1947 National Security Act of 1947.

Architecture and design

The design employs a five-sided plan with concentric rings and five radial corridors linking the inner courtyard to perimeter rings, reflecting a functional schema influenced by neoclassical and utilitarian principles advocated by designers from the American Institute of Architects. Architect George Bergstrom and engineers integrated structural steel, reinforced concrete, and brick facades sourced from suppliers in regions like Pennsylvania and Virginia. The low-rise profile preserves sightlines to landmarks such as the Arlington National Cemetery and aligns with zoning near Arlington County. Interior planning optimized transit by providing short walking distances between offices, coordinated with utility grids similar to those used in large federal complexes like the General Services Administration buildings and wartime command centers.

Construction and facilities

Construction techniques combined rapid concrete pours with steel framing managed by firms including John McShain, Inc. and subcontractors from the industrial Midwest such as companies based in Pittsburgh and Chicago. The five rings (A–E) contain offices, conference rooms, secure communications suites, and mechanical systems supported by redundant power and chilled-water plants akin to infrastructure at Naval Observatory facilities. The central plaza and ring corridors allowed efficient circulation for tens of thousands of employees drawn from services including the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and elements of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Facility expansions and renovations have involved agencies like the GSA and contractors experienced in classified construction, incorporating electromagnetic shielding and protected spaces comparable to secure sites used by National Reconnaissance Office.

Operations and tenants

Operational control resides with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and installation management coordinated with Fort Myer and nearby military installations. Tenants span combatant commands, staff directorates such as Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, acquisition organizations like the Defense Contract Management Agency, and intelligence components including the National Security Agency liaison offices. The building supports coordination with allied entities during crises involving partners such as NATO, the United Nations, and bilateral interlocutors from countries represented by embassies in Washington, D.C.. Routine operations require integration with federal law enforcement partners including the United States Capitol Police liaison and emergency responders from Arlington County Fire Department.

9/11 attack and damage repair

On September 11, 2001, Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon’s western facade, causing catastrophic structural damage, fatalities among military and civilian personnel, and the collapse of affected sections; the attack tied into the wider September 11 attacks that struck World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash. Emergency response involved Pentagon Police, Arlington County Fire Department, United States Secret Service, and federal assets coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Recovery and reconstruction under the Phoenix Project rapidly repaired the damaged wedge, integrating blast-resistant materials and memorial provisions; the reconstruction process involved contractors and oversight by agencies including the GSA and the Department of Defense.

Security and access

Security measures combine physical barriers, controlled access points, identification systems interoperable with standards like those used by Department of Homeland Security components, and coordination with federal counterterrorism entities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Defense Police. Perimeter defenses employ standoff barriers, vehicle screening, and screening protocols refined after incidents like 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and policy changes informed by commissions such as the 9/11 Commission. Public access for tours and ceremonies is regulated through background checks and passes processed in coordination with the Visitor Control Center and liaison offices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

Cultural significance and memorials

The building symbolizes United States military command and has featured in media portrayals associated with films about conflicts such as the Gulf War and political dramas set in Washington, D.C.. Memorials on site include the Pentagon Memorial honoring those killed on September 11, 2001, and commemorative displays that recognize service and sacrifice linked to conflicts like World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Nearby ceremonial spaces include Arlington National Cemetery and monuments frequented by delegations from allies including United Kingdom and Canada; the site hosts observances involving leaders like Presidents of the United States and senior officials from the Department of Defense.

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