Who Suggested Designing the Pentagon as a Pentagon?
The Pentagon is a famous and iconic building in the United States, serving as the headquarters for the Department of Defense. However, the origin of its unique pentagonal shape is often mistakenly attributed to suggestions from architects or urban planners. In reality, the shape of the Pentagon was influenced by practical considerations, particularly the need for a suitable location and the design based on an available parcel of land.
From Hospital to Headquarters
Initially, the land where the Pentagon now stands was intended to be used as the site for building a large military hospital. The land was chosen because it was near the Arlington Cemetery, offering a serene location. However, as the United States entered World War II, it became necessary to construct a larger and more robust facility. Thus, it was decided to convert the project into the headquarters for the Department of Defense, ensuring it would be a functional and secure location.
The Shape of the Pentagon
The initial design for the Pentagon was square, but it was soon realized that the square shape would not fit perfectly on the available land. The land in question was irregular and had an approximate pentagonal shape. To make the best use of the available land, it was decided to design the building in a similar shape to the parcel it occupied. This decision was driven by the need to use the land as efficiently as possible, allowing for the easy passage of equipment and personnel.
The Mile-long Footprint
Another significant consideration was the design to ensure that no one inside the building was more than half a mile away from the center. This requirement was met by creating a footprint that was approximately a mile long. This design aspect was crucial for operational efficiency, as it minimized travel time and ensured that all areas of the building could be quickly accessed in case of emergencies.
The Pentagon’s Construction and Design
Despite the initial irregular pentagonal shape of the land, planners managed to adjust the design to make it more uniform. However, the fundamental pentagonal shape was retained to maximize the use of the available space. This adjustment allowed for a more geometrically pleasing building while maintaining the practical benefits of the original land use shape. Thus, the Pentagon’s unique pentagonal design is a result of a balance between the available land, operational efficiency, and aesthetic considerations.
Insights and Conclusions
The Pentagon's pentagonal shape is a testament to the efficient and pragmatic planning that went into the project. Rather than being the result of arbitrary architectural choices, its design was based on practical considerations to ensure that the building could fit on the available land, be utilized efficiently, and comply with operational requirements.
The Pentagon's unique shape serves as a reminder of the importance of considering both practical and aesthetic aspects when designing large-scale buildings. It stands as a symbol of the strategic and logistical challenges faced in constructing such a significant facility and the innovative solutions found to overcome these challenges.