Who designed the US Supreme Court Building and when was it built?

Answer 1

Chief Justice William Howard Taft (U.S. President 1909-1913) convinced Congress to allocate funds for the U.S. Supreme Court's permanent home in 1929. Construction began in March 1931 and concluded in April 1935. The new building opened in October 1935, the Court's 146th year of existence.

Architect Cass Gilbert, a friend of Taft's, was charged with designing "a building of dignity and importance suitable for its use as the permanent home of the Supreme Court." Gilbert chose to construct the 304' x 385', four-story marble building in the Roman Neoclassical style to complement nearby Congressional buildings.

Unfortunately, both Taft and Gilbert died before construction was complete. The project was continued under the supervision of Chief Justice Hughes and architects Cass Gilbert, Jr., and John R. Rockart.

Construction, sculpture and furnishings cost less than the $9,740,000 Congress had allotted, so $94,000 was returned to the Treasury when the new building opened in 1935.