U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Annex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Annex
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 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Louis A. Simon |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Stripped Classicism |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000683 |
| Added to NRHP | October 5, 2015 |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Annex is an office building in Washington, D.C.. It is located at 300 12th Street SW. This building has been used for different government tasks over the years.
Contents
Building History and Design
The Cotton Annex was built between 1936 and 1937. It was made for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA needed new offices and labs. Their old building was being torn down. This was to make room for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Who Designed the Building?
Louis A. Simon designed the Cotton Annex. He was the main architect for the U.S. Treasury. The building has six stories. It is made of brick. Its style is called Stripped Classical architecture.
What Does It Look Like?
The building has special walls. They are made of light brown bricks. These bricks are laid in a pattern called "all-stretcher bond." The roof is flat. It has limestone on top. There is also a tall wall around the roof on two sides. This wall is called a parapet.
Early Use of the Building
From 1937 until 1964, the Cotton Annex was home to the USDA's Cotton Division. This division worked with cotton standards. Later, part of the Cotton Division moved away. Other USDA groups then used the empty lab spaces. Some Cotton Division offices stayed until 1982.
Later Ownership and Use
In 1982, the General Services Administration (GSA) took over the building. The GSA manages many government buildings. The USDA completely left the building in 2007. This meant the GSA became fully responsible for its care.
Security and Vacancy
In 2007, the GSA made a deal. The Federal Protective Service (FPS) started using part of the Cotton Annex land. They used it to check trucks. These trucks were making deliveries to a nearby building. However, the Cotton Annex building itself has been empty since 2007.
Discussions About the Building's Future
In 2007, a group from the U.S. House of Representatives met at the Cotton Annex. They discussed what to do with the building. Some wanted the GSA to sell it. A GSA official explained that the FPS was covering the building's costs.
In 2014, a GSA leader suggested a trade. He proposed giving the Cotton Annex to developers. In return, the developers would help with other government building projects. This included a new headquarters for the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The Building is Sold
On February 9, 2017, a company called Jemal Cotton Annex LLC bought the building. They paid $30.3 million for it. Later, in December 2018, they bought more land next to the building.
