Pentagon, The (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Pentagon Office Building Complex
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Covering 29 acres, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest office building in the world by ground area. Built between August 1941 and January 1943, it was conceived to house the many command functions of a rapidly expanding military. Architects George Edwin Bergstrom and David J. Witmer designed it as a regular pentagon with five concentric rings of offices around a five-acre courtyard. Its limestone-faced concrete exterior follows Stripped Classicism, with simplified Tuscan-style colonnades, a plain entablature and little ornament. President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed that limestone be used instead of marble. The nominated elements are the original outer facades, the central courtyard, the terraces fronting the Mall and River entrances, and the distinctive five-sided form. Interiors have been heavily remodelled since the 1940s, but the exterior facades keep their original appearance. The building was finished in just 17 months, and about 33,000 people worked there at its wartime peak.
Significance in brief: The text provided is mostly the description section, and the statement of significance is truncated. The form describes the building as a leading example of Stripped Classicism, a blend of Classical and Modern design used in many Federal buildings from the 1930s to 1950s. It also notes the building's construction in 17 months during World War II as a remarkable feat of civil engineering, and its design by architects Bergstrom and Witmer.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 100009350, listed September 11, 2023. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Washington Blvd. (VA 27), Richmond Hwy. (VA 110), Shirley Hwy. (I 395), Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | September 11, 2023 |
| Reference number | 100009350 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Edwin Bergstrom and David J. Witmer, co-chief architects of the U.S. War Department; conceived by General Brehon B. Somervell |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement / Stripped Classicism |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Military, Architecture, Politics/Government, Other |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 5, 1992 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as a government office and military facility; exterior facades retain original appearance while interiors have been extensively remodelled. Condition marked good and occupied on the older form. |
| Acreage | 48.4 |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 100009350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.