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    HomeExplore the Capitol CampusBuildings & GroundsLibrary of Congress Buildings
James Madison Memorial Building
        
                  Buildings and grounds
  

        
              Library of Congress
                                        James Madison Building
                                                John Adams Building
                                                Thomas Jefferson Building
                                                Fort Meade
                                                Packard CampusThe Basics
      
Location
    101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20540

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Date Occupied
    1980

Size
    2.1 million square feet

AOC Jurisdiction
    Library Buildings and GroundsOpened in 1980, the Madison Building is the largest library structure in the world.

The Madison Building is an unusual combination of a national shrine contained in a working building serving both as the Library's third major structure and as this nation's official memorial to President James Madison.

In 1957, the Librarian of Congress, Quincy Mumford, initiated studies for a third library building to ease overcrowding. Congress appropriated planning funds for that structure in 1960. In an unrelated move that same year, Congress established a commission to create a national memorial for James Madison, Father of the Constitution and fourth President of the United States. Soon the goals of both ventures were merged when it was decided to construct the latest library building as a memorial to Madison. It was deemed particularly appropriate because his achievements seemed to lie in the area of intellectual pursuits.
Construction of the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress was approved on October 19, 1965, with an appropriation of $75 million. Excavation and foundation work began in June 1971, and work on the superstructure was completed in 1976. The cornerstone was laid on March 8, 1974. Dedication ceremonies were held on April 24, 1980, and the building opened on May 28, 1980.
The Madison Building was designed by the firm of DeWitt, Poor & Shelton, which had previously designed the east extension of the Capitol that was built in 1958-1962. With its tall colonnade of unadorned piers the design attempted to capture the spirit of classical architecture while remaining faithful to the canons of modern innovation. Critics have generally not been impressed, and usually deride the building as a cold, graceless, hard-edged box. All can agree, however, that it is commodious: it is 500 feet wide and 400 feet deep containing 2,100,000 gross square feet and 1,500,000 feet of assignable space. A bronze sculptural screen, A Cascade of Books, rises five stories above the main entrance.
It is one of the three largest public buildings in the Washington area; the Pentagon and F.B.I. Building are the others. With so much space, the library was able to relieve overcrowding in the Jefferson and Adams Buildings, which allowed them to be restored, rehabilitated and modernized.
The Architect of the Capitol was in charge of construction under the direction of the Senate and House Building Commissions and the Joint Committee on the Library. A committee appointed by the American Institute of Architects played an advisory role. Plans for the Madison Memorial Hall were developed in consultation with the James Madison Memorial Commission.
          
    
      Image Gallery
    
    A Cascade of Books at the entrance to the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building in Washington, D.C.
    Summer at the Capitol
    View of tables and chairs outside of the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.
    Looking up at the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.

Looking up at the main entrance to the James Madison Building.
    View of the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.

View of the main entrance to the James Madison Building.
    View of the U.S. Capitol dome from the James Madison Building.

View of the U.S. Capitol dome from the James Madison Building.
    Interior view of the James Madison Building.

Interior view of the James Madison Building.

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          A Cascade of Books at the entrance to the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building in Washington, D.C.
      Summer at the Capitol
      View of tables and chairs outside of the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.
      Looking up at the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.
      View of the main entrance to the James Madison Building in Washington, D.C.
      View of the U.S. Capitol dome from the James Madison Building.
      Interior view of the James Madison Building.
Image
    A Cascade of Books at the entrance to the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building in Washington, D.C.
  The Art Collection
        A Cascade of Books
        A Cascade of Books by Frank Eliscu is a bronze sculptural screen that rises five stories above the main entrance to the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress. Measuring approximately 50 feet high by 35 feet wide, it consists of 98 open books, with some as large as five feet wide.
        About the Piece
        VIEW ALL ART

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Library of Congress Buildings
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          Sky and exterior of a building.John Adams Building
    Exterior view of a building.Packard Campus
    Exterior view of a building.Thomas Jefferson Building
    Aisle between bookshelves.Fort Meade Serve. Preserve. Inspire.

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