U.S. Treasury Building East Wing
The
Treasury Building was originally designed by Robert Mills. An excellent
book on Robert Mills is available from the American Institute of Architects
and other sources. John Bryan was editor and author of much of the chapters
on the South Carolina portion of the carrer of Robert Mills. It contains
little specifically on the Treasury Building but the Mills Papers prepared
by Pamela Scott is a good resource as is the curator's office of the Treaury
building located at the Treasury Department. The Treasury Department quickly
outgrew the space and Mills was asked to design an extension. His life
ended before the decision was made for the continuation of construction.
The construction was controversial but the main intention was to build
a large fire proof structure. Several fires in Washington destroyed important
records and Congress recognized the importance of future Government buildings
surviving fires. The design selected was the best technologically known
at the time for a building that could survive fire hazards. The classical
design was in keeping with the desire of Congress to use a style of architecture
that symbolized democratic republics of ancient Greek and Rome. They also
insisted Mills use sandstone from a nearby quarry for the exterior (which
Mills resisted because the stone deteriorated in time and had to be replaced
with the present exterior with the exception of the inner court exterior
walls). Interior walls are brick. In public stories the brick walls were
faced with plaster. It is simple and functional. The original entrance
is seen in the drawing to the present second floor.
Next
Return to Mullett page
Return to Home page
Copyright Mullett-Smith Press 1996-2000 photo kindness of U.S. Treasury Curator.