The Pentagon, one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States, is among the country's architectural masterpieces. Its construction marked a significant milestone in the development of American infrastructure during World War II, and its unique shape and scale remain unmatched to this day.
The idea for the Pentagon
came into being in early 1941, as the United States began preparing for its possible entry into World War II. The Department of Defense was suffering from a serious lack of space for its employees. Scattered across multiple buildings in Washington, the department's administrative functions were cumbersome and inefficient.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided to address this problem by constructing a new building that would unite all the departments of the military administration under one roof. The design was commissioned by architect George Edgeley.
The architectural design of the Pentagon
was inspired by the five-sided geometric figure. The choice of the five-sided shape was not accidental. The building's original location was in an area surrounded by several roads with this specific configuration. Although the building was eventually moved to its current location in Arlington, Virginia, the original concept of the five-sided shape was preserved.
The Pentagon was designed with five concentric rings connected by corridors. This allowed employees to move from one point to another within the building in no more than 7 minutes. With a total area of 600,000 sq.m. The building remains the largest administrative building in the world, accommodating over 26,000 employees.
Construction of the Pentagon began on September 11, 1941.
a symbolic date that years later would take on a dark historical hue. The project was completed extremely quickly – in less than 16 months. This was due to the urgency of the war and the strictly planned work that continued 24 hours a day.
The construction used about 680,000 tons of sandstone extracted from the Potomac River, as well as huge amounts of steel and concrete needed to strengthen the building.
After the war, the Pentagon building
became a symbol of American military power and administrative efficiency.
One of the darkest pages in the history of the Pentagon occurred on September 11, 2001, when a terrorist attack seriously damaged its west wing. After the attack, the building underwent numerous reconstructions to restore the damaged parts and improve security.
Despite its age, the Pentagon remains functional and modern thanks to continuous renovations. At the beginning of the 21st century, a large-scale reconstruction project was launched, known as the “Pentagon Renewal Program“, which includes modernizing communication systems, infrastructure, and security measures.
Today, the building is not only an administrative center, but also a historical monument that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
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