Guam Congress Building
Guam Congress Building | |
Location | Chalan Santo Papa, Hagatna, Guam |
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Coordinates | 13°28′30″N 144°45′8″E / 13.47500°N 144.75222°E |
Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
Built | 1949 |
Built by | Pacific Island Builders; Brown & Root Pacific Bridge & Maxon |
Architectural style | Modern Movement |
NRHP reference No. | 06001320[1] |
Added to NRHP | February 1, 2007 |
The former Guam Congress Building, also known as the Guam Legislature Building, is located in Chalan Santo Papa in Hagåtña, Guam. It was built in 1949 by Pacific Island Buildings and of Brown & Root Pacific Bridge & Maxon. It has served as a capitol and as a courthouse building.[1] It is a Modern Movement-style building that was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2007.[1]
It is significant for its role in the history of the Chamorro people and their effort to end the dominant military rule of the United States Navy in 1950.[2] The legislature moved to a new location in 1989 and two wings of the building were taken down. [2] In 2016, however, the Guam Preservation Trust and the Guam Legislature restored and rehabilitated the old Guam Congress Building. The $7.3M restoration and rehabilitation started in the summer of 2015. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on December 21, 2016, with former senators, speakers, and governors highly in attendance.
History
The Guam Legislature was housed for many years in the Guam Legislature Building in Hagåtña, which is directly across the street from the Hagåtña Cathedral-Basilica, adjacent to the Guam Museum at Skinner Plaza and the Plaza de España. Originally, the building also served as the Island District Court and the Territorial Court of Guam. After the judicial branch relocated to their own, new building in 1968 within the capital, the building became solely the legislative building.
The architecture of the building was considered beautiful, but lack of maintenance over the years and general aging led to the Guam Legislature’s decision in the late 1980s to build a new, high-rise legislative building. The design of the building was ambitious, costing many millions of dollars, and an outraged public questioned the spending priorities of its senators.
The senators moved out of the Guam Legislature Building in 1990 and rented another Hagåtña building as a temporary home. But because of the public outrage, and a general shortage of funds due to Guam’s economic recession, the new legislative building never got built, and the Guam Legislature remained in its temporary home for 26 years.
In 2016, however, the Guam Preservation Trust and the Guam Legislature restored and rehabilitated the old Guam Legislature Building. In 2006 it was listed on the Guam and National Registers of Historic Places. Before undergoing any rehabilitation efforts, a structural analysis, Historic Structures Report and architectural and engineering plans had to be completed. Rehabilitation efforts were completed at the end of 2016.
The building preserves Guam’s history but also makes way for the future. The formal chambers and public areas remain intact, but two new wings have been added for legislators and staff. The signature mahogany paneling was restored. Additionally environmentally friendly materials and efficient use of water and power generated by rooftop solar panels was added.
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "Guam Congress Building". National Park Service. (with photo)