View source for Russell Senate Office Building

{{Short description|Government building in Washington, D.C.}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Update|date=February 2023}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = Russell Senate Office Building
| former_names     = 
| status           = Complete
| image            = Russell_Senate_Office_Building_(53830790092).jpg
| image_alt        = 
| image_size       = 
| caption          = The southwest entrance along Constitution Avenue, N.E. (c. 2024)
| map_type         = United States Washington, D.C. central
| map_alt          = 
| map_caption      = Location within [[Washington, D.C.]]
| relief           = 
| altitude         = 
| building_type    = 
| architectural_style = [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]]
| structural_system = 
| material         = Marble and Limestone
| cost             = 
| ren_cost         = 
| client           = 
| owner            = 
| current_tenants  = 
| landlord         = 
| location         = [[United States Capitol Complex]]
| location_town    = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| location_country = United States
| coordinates      = {{coord|38|53|34|N|77|0|25|W|region:US-DC|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date = 
| start_date       = {{start date and age|1903}}
| completion_date  = 
| opened_date      = {{start date and age|March 5, 1909}}
| height           = 
| diameter         = 
| circumference    = 
| architectural    = 
| tip              = 
| roof             = 
| top_floor        = 
| observatory      = 
| other_dimensions = 
| floor_count      = 
| floor_area       = 
| seating_type     = 
| seating_capacity = 
| elevator_count   = 
| grounds_area     = {{Convert|698921|sqft|m2}}
| architect        = [[Edward Clark (architect)|Edward Clark]]
| architecture_firm = [[Carrère and Hastings]]
| structural_engineer = 
| services_engineer = 
| civil_engineer   = 
| other_designers  = 
| quantity_surveyor = 
| main_contractor  = 
| awards           = 
| designations     = 
| rooms            = 
| parking          = 
| url              = 
| embedded         = 
| references       = 
}}
{{United States Senate}}

The '''Russell Senate Office Building''' is the oldest of the [[United States Senate]] office buildings. Designed in the [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] [[architectural style]], it was built from 1903 to 1908 and opened in 1909. It was named for [[Richard Russell Jr.]], a former U.S. senator from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], in 1972.<ref name = AOC>{{cite web |title=The Russell Senate Office Building |publisher=[[Architect of the Capitol]] |url=https://www.aoc.gov/capitol-buildings/russell-senate-office-building |access-date=2017-10-27}}</ref> It occupies a site north of the Capitol bounded by [[Constitution Avenue (DC)|Constitution Avenue]], First Street, Delaware Avenue, and C Street N.E.

==History==
The first [[congressional office building]] was constructed immediately after the turn of the 20th century to relieve overcrowding in the [[United States Capitol]]. Previously, members who wanted office space had to rent quarters or borrow space in committee rooms. In March 1901, Congress authorized [[Architect of the Capitol]] [[Edward Clark (architect)|Edward Clark]] to draw plans for [[Fireproofing|fireproof]] office buildings adjacent to the Capitol grounds. In March 1903, the acquisition of sites and construction of the buildings were authorized, and the Senate Office Building Commission selected a site.

In April 1904, the prominent [[New York City]] [[architectural firm]] of [[Carrère and Hastings]] was retained. John Carrère took charge of the Senate Office Building project, while Thomas Hastings oversaw the construction of an almost identical office building (now named the [[Cannon House Office Building]]) for the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Their Beaux Arts designs were restrained complements to the Capitol. Architecturally, their elevations are divided into a [[Rustication (architecture)|rusticated]] base and a [[colonnade]] with an [[entablature]] and [[balustrade]]. The Constitution Ave. side is a quasi replica of the [[Louvre Colonnade|easternmost façade of the Palais du Louvre in Paris]]. The colonnades, with 34 [[Doric order|Doric columns]] that face the Capitol, are echoed by [[pilaster]]s on the sides of the buildings. Both buildings are faced with [[marble]] and [[limestone]]; the Russell Building's base and terrace are gray [[granite]]. Modern for their time, they included such facilities as [[HVAC|forced-air ventilation]] systems, steam heat, individual [[Bathroom|lavatories]] with hot and cold [[Tap water|running water]] and ice water, [[telephone]]s, and [[electricity]]. Both are connected to the Capitol by underground passages. Originally there were 98 suites and eight committee rooms in the Russell Building; the First Street Wing, completed in 1933, added two committee rooms and 28 suites.

Of special architectural interest is the [[Rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]]. Eighteen [[Corinthian order|Corinthian columns]] support an entablature and a [[coffer]]ed [[dome]], whose glazed oculus floods the [[Rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]] with [[sunlight]]. Twin marble staircases lead from the rotunda to an imposing Caucus Room, which features Corinthian pilasters, a full entablature, and a richly detailed ceiling; the Russell Caucus Room (known since 2009 as the "Kennedy Caucus Room" in honor of Senators [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]], and [[Edward M. Kennedy]])<ref name = AOC/> retains its original 1910 benches and [[Settle (furniture)|settles]] with carved [[Bald eagle|eagles]]. This space has been used for many hearings on subjects of national significance, including the 1912 [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'']] [[United States Senate inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic|hearings]]; the 1974 [[United States Senate Watergate Committee|Watergate hearings]], the [[Iran–Contra affair|Iran-Contra hearings]], and the 1991 [[Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination]] hearings. The rotunda contains a statue of Russell by sculptor [[Frederick Hart (sculptor)|Frederick Hart]].<ref name="RussellStatue">{{cite web |title=Richard B. Russell Memorial Statue |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/artifact/Sculpture_21_00021.htm |access-date=28 October 2017 |website=[[United States Senate]] |publisher=}}</ref>

The Russell Building was occupied in 1909 by the Senate of the 61st Congress. The growth of staff and committees in the twenty years following its completion resulted in the addition of a fourth side, the First Street Wing, to the originally U-shaped building. [[Nathan C. Wyeth]] and [[Francis P. Sullivan]] were the consulting architects for the new wing, which was completed in 1933. The building was originally named the Senate Office Building. When the [[Dirksen Office Building]] was completed, it became the New Senate Office Building and the original Senate Office Building became the "Old Senate Office Building" until being renamed the Russell Building in 1972.

The building received extensive pop culture visual cachet in the 1970s when film footage of the southwest corner was regularly used to represent the headquarters of the fictional OSI organization in the TV series ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]'' and ''[[The Bionic Woman]]''.

After Senator [[John McCain]] from [[Arizona]] died in 2018, [[Chuck Schumer]], the [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate minority leader]], introduced legislation to rename the building for McCain.<ref>{{cite web |last=Edmondson |first=Catie |date=August 28, 2018 |title=Replace Richard Russell’s Name With McCain’s? Senate Debates a Segregationist’s Legacy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/us/politics/russell-senate-building-mccain.html |access-date=October 5, 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 28, 2018 |title=Proposal to rename Senate office building after McCain stirs backlash |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/proposal-rename-senate-office-building-after-mccain-stirs-backlash-n904551 |access-date=October 5, 2025 |website=NBC News}}</ref> Though the bill received bipartisan support, it was not brought to a vote at the time because of a lack of commitment from [[Mitch McConnell]], the Senate majority leader.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sunlen Serfaty |first=Clare Foran |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Schumer renews push to name Senate building in honor of McCain |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/20/politics/john-mccain-schumer-trump-senate-building |access-date=October 5, 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref>

==Senators with Russell offices==
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
! Name
! Party
! State
! Room
|-
|[[Jim Banks]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
|[[Indiana]]
|Room B85
|-
|[[Michael Bennet]] 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Colorado]]
| Room 261
|-
|[[Katie Britt]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Alabama]]
| Room 502
|-
|[[Ted Budd]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[North Carolina]]
| Room 304
|-
|[[Shelley Moore Capito]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[West Virginia]]
| Room 172
|-
|[[Chris Coons]] 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Delaware]]
| Room 218
|-
|[[Tom Cotton]] 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Arkansas]]
| Room 326
|-
|[[Kevin Cramer]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
|[[North Dakota]]
|Room 400
|-
|[[Ted Cruz]] 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Texas]]
| Room 127A
|-
|[[John Curtis]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
|[[Utah]]
|Room B11
|-
|[[John Fetterman]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Pennsylvania]]
| Room 142
|-
|[[Deb Fischer]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Nebraska]]
| Room 454
|-
|[[Ruben Gallego]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
|[[Arizona]]
|Room 188
|-
|[[Kirsten Gillibrand]] 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[New York (state)|New York]]
| Room 478
|-
|[[Lindsey Graham]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[South Carolina]]
| Room 211
|-
|[[Bill Hagerty]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|Room B11
|-
|[[Josh Hawley]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
|[[Missouri]]
|Room 381
|-
|[[John Hickenlooper]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
|[[Colorado]]
|Room B85
|-
|[[John Hoeven]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[North Dakota]]
| Room 338
|-
|[[Tim Kaine]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Virginia]]
| Room 231
|-
|[[John Neely Kennedy]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Louisiana]]
| Room 416
|-
|[[Mike Lee]] 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Utah]]
| Room 361A
|-
|[[Roger Marshall]] 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Kansas]]
| Room 479A
|-
|[[Mitch McConnell]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Kentucky]]
| Room 317
|-
|[[Ashley Moody]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Florida]]
| Room 387
|-
|[[Bernie Moreno]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Ohio]]
| Room B33
|-
|[[Markwayne Mullin]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Oklahoma]]
| Room 330
|-
|[[Patty Murray]] 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| Room 154
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Kentucky]]
| Room 167
|-
|[[Pete Ricketts]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Nebraska]]
| Room 139
|-
|[[Jim Risch]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Idaho]]
| Room 483
|-
|[[Jacky Rosen]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
|[[Nevada]]
|Room 144
|-
|[[Eric Schmitt]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| [[Missouri]]
| Room 404
|-
|[[Peter Welch]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]
| [[Vermont]]
| Room 124
|-
|}<nowiki> </nowiki><ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Senators of the 117th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact |access-date=2021-01-21 |website=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref>

==Committee offices within Russell Senate Office Building==
*[[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
*[[United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Flickr - USCapitol - Richard B. Russell Statue.jpg|A 1995 statue of Russell by [[Frederick Hart (sculptor)|Frederick Hart]] stands in the building's rotunda
File:Russell sob rotunda.jpg|The rotunda of the Russell Building featuring the sculpture by Frederick Hart
File:RusselOfficeDomeView.jpg|View of Russell from United States Capitol dome
File:Committee room in the Russell Building (28017909643).jpg|Committee room in the Russell Building
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Hart Senate Office Building]]
*[[Dirksen Senate Office Building]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Russell Senate Office Building}}

{{United States Capitol Complex|state=expanded}}
{{United States Congress}}
{{Carrère and Hastings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1908 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Beaux-Arts architecture in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Carrère and Hastings buildings]]
[[Category:Congressional office buildings]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1908]]