Department of Justice: Exterior Sculptures and Reliefs - Washington DC

Department of Justice: Exterior Sculptures and Reliefs - Washington DC

In 1935, when the U.S. Department of Justice building was completed, a 150-year-old government entity was finally provided with its first permanent home.
While the overall building design conforms with a consistent design vocabulary established in the Federal Triangle, it is distinguished by Art Deco architectural elements and its innovative use of aluminum for details that were traditionally cast in bronze. All entrances to the building feature 20-foot-high aluminum doors that slide into recessed pockets. Interior stair railings, grilles, and door trim are aluminum, as are Art Deco torcheres, doors for the building’s 25 elevators, and more than 10,000 light fixtures.
Sculpture is skillfully integrated into the fabric of the building. Sculptor C. Paul Jennewein was selected to create a unified design concept for the building’s exterior and interior spaces, designing 57 sculptural elements for the building. His work ranged from the carved limestone figures for the pediments on the Constitution Avenue facade, to the aluminum Art Deco torcheres and light fixtures throughout the interior.

Madison Wade

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/department-justice-sculptures-washington-dc/

1935

Creative Commons, https://livingnewdeal.org/map/

September 28th, 2019

Photographs and Video

I went to the Department of Justice Building in Washington DC. The reasons why I picked this location was because I thought no one else would go there, I'm a Criminology Major so I figured going to the Department of Justice would be fitting for me, and it also included another one of my favorite things being Greek mythology (the sculptures in the pictures). The building was next to a very busy street in DC with alot of cars driving past. It was also in the heart of DC since the National History Museum was right in front of it. Although there was not a plaque talking about the sculptures there was one close by talking about the Department of Justice building itself. It was interesting how the plaque talked about the early roots of law, then led to talk about the "1930s-era murals illustrating how law and justice improve American life" inside the building, then the Federal Triangle Heritage Trail. It had my Crim geek side show a little bit in front of my boyfriend who was with me. I wish I was able to go back in time and be someone who works there compared to now. Just to see how the jobs have changed or stayed the same, see what kind of things they dealed with then, and be able to see everything that advanced or the things they never changed in the building. I think the site was significant back in the 1930's because with the Great Depression going on and so many different laws/organizations being put in place they had to make sure everything was being balanced out and done fairly, which is one of the things the Department of Justice handles. All and all I really enjoyed visiting this site. I learned about a New Deal site but also learned some interesting things about my major.
(P.s. Although I look kinda grumpy in my photo I was actually really happy, I was just being blinded by the sun :) )