The Pentagon is one of the most famous buildings in the world, built in the shape of the Pentagon (the Greek.) - A geometric shape with five corners of a regular pentagon, where, in fact, was his name.
Despite the fact that the construction of this building was completed in 1943, it is still the largest office building in the world. Today we will learn 10 amazing facts about this building.
1) This building was not built for the Ministry of Defence.
Construction of the Pentagon - it certainly is not ancient history, but in American history, it has already become. The fact that the President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt never intended to use the Pentagon as an office of the Ministry of Defence. In the 1930s, especially for the Ministry of Defence was built another building for the departments of the military and naval authorities, but they are quickly outgrown the available building space. Then Roosevelt allocated for the Ministry of Defense Pentagon, which can accommodate 40,000 employees and 10 000 cars. The old building of the military department currently houses the State Department.
2) More than the Empire State Building.
With an area of 474,300 square meters, the Pentagon has twice as more office space than the Empire State Building in New York.
3) The Pentagon was built on the site of the slums called "Lower Hell."
The Pentagon was built on the site of poor black suburbs, known as the "Lower Hell." After the Civil War, the area was settled by former slaves. Prostitution flourished and had their streets "red lights".
4) He was given the nickname «Ground Zero» during the Cold War.
During the Cold War, the Pentagon called "zero point» (Ground Zero). This name he received because if there was a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, the nuclear missiles in the first place would have destroyed the Pentagon.
5) 28 kilometers ...
Just walking around the Pentagon can be quite tired. The fact that the Pentagon has a total of corridors, stretching 28 kilometers actually building is a real maze. General Eisenhower once got lost in the Pentagon, trying to find his office.
6) Repair.
Since the Pentagon opened its doors in 1943, it was held Repair only one. Repair lasted 17 years and ended in 2011. Fortunately, it was worth not so expensive for such a building - all the repairs cost the agency $ 4.5 billion.
7) Only 5 floors.
The Pentagon has a height of only 5 floors. This design for the building was chosen to save steel for the army during the Second World War, which was in full swing at the time of its construction. Architects also made it not very high, because they do not want to spoil the view of the capital across the Potomac River.
8) There is no elevator.
At the Pentagon, there are no elevators. All movement between the floors are made with the help of ramps. It was also originally done to save the steel during World War II.
9) The construction was completed in record time.
Pentagon really huge and very massive, it's hard to think that its construction could be completed very quickly. But it is not. In fact, General Leslie Groves, R. (who also supervised the project "Manhattan"), the Pentagon has built in just two years.
10) At the Pentagon, a lot of closets.
Pentagon now has twice as many latrines than is actually needed. This happened because it was built during the American segregation and builders had to be equipped with a separate toilet room for black and white workers.
