CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.agu.org/about/history/building.shtml","20120127094631","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1327657591"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta name="bcrumb" content="The AGU Building"/> <title>AGU Headquarters Building</title> <link href="/web/20120127094631cs_/http://www.agu.org/styles/agu-styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <link href="/web/20120127094631cs_/http://www.agu.org/styles/agu-styles_print.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print"/> <link href="/web/20120127094631cs_/http://www.agu.org/styles/agu-styles_mobile.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="handheld"/> <link href="/web/20120127094631cs_/http://www.agu.org/styles/navTop.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <link href="/web/20120127094631cs_/http://www.agu.org/styles/navAbout.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120127094631js_/http://www.agu.org/scripts/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120127094631js_/http://www.agu.org/scripts/utils.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function section_init() { //js for navigation must match corresponding li number in navigation show('smenu5'); } if (typeof window.onload != 'function') { window.onload = section_init; } else { AddOnload( section_init ); } </script> <style type="text/css"> form {display : inline;} #content .weatherbox { margin-top: 21px; padding:0; border: 1px solid #CCCCCC; background-color:#F3F6FB; width:100%;} #content .weatherbox .wb-header {padding:0; margin:0; } #content .weatherbox .wb-bottom {background-color:#fff; border-top: 2px dotted #eee; margin-top:0; padding-top:.5em;} #content div.weatherbox p {margin-right: 1em;} #content .weatherbox p.view {font-size: 1.1em;} #content .weatherbox p.view a {text-decoration:underline;} #content .weatherbox p.wb-title {padding-top: .8em; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;} div.wb-left {float:left; clear:right; padding:0; margin:0 1em 0 0; width:182px;} div.weatherbox .dyn {margin: 0 .8em 0 0; padding:0;border-top: 2px solid #eee;} #content p.last-p {margin-bottom: 28px;} </style> </head> <body id="about" class="history">  <div id="bldg">  <div id="container">  <div class="skip"><a href="#content">Skip to Main Content</a></div>   <div id="quicklinks">  <div id="right"> <ul> <li class="first"><span class="ico join"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/https://www.associationsciences.org/agu/">Join AGU</a></li> <li><span class="ico donate"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/giving/donate/">Donate</a></li> <li><span class="ico contact"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/contact/">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="gsearch">  <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.google.com/cse" id="cse-search-box" title="Google Search Engine"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="014815998409790433358:lew9uzmlteo"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="UTF-8"/> <input type="text" name="q" class="googlesearch" size="20" title="Google Search Engine"/> <input type="image" name="sa" value="Go" src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/icons/icoSearch.gif" alt="Go" title="Go"/> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631js_/http://www.google.com/coop/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box&lang=en"></script>  </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://europa.agu.org/">Search Publications</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div id="banner"> <h1 class="hidden">AGU - Earth | Oceans | Atmosphere | Space | Planets</h1> <hr size="1" class="hidden"/> <span class="hidefromprint"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/layout/banner.jpg" alt="AGU - Earth | Oceans | Atmosphere | Space | Planets" title="AGU - Earth | Oceans | Atmosphere | Space | Planets" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" align="top" usemap="#Map"/> <map name="Map" id="Map"> <area shape="rect" coords="31,25,247,114" href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/" alt="AGU" title="AGU" tabindex="3"/> </map></span> </div>  <div id="topnav">   <div id="topNavCont"> <ul id="topNavList"> <li class="first"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/" rel="sb1">Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/" rel="sb2">About</a> <ul class="tabcontainer about"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/">Our Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/mission.shtml">Mission</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/strategic_plan.shtml">Strategic Plan</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/presidents_msg/">President's Message</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/ed/">Executive Director</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/">Governance</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/">Honors & Awards</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/history/">History</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/careers/">Careers at AGU</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/contact/">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/membership/" rel="sb3">Membership</a> <ul class="tabcontainer membership"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/membership/benefits.shtml">Benefits</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/membership/categories_dues.shtml">Categories & Dues</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/membership/subscriptions.shtml">Subscriptions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/" rel="sb4">Publications</a> <ul class="tabcontainer pubs"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/dlibrary/">Digital Library</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/journals/">Journals</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/books/">Books</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/eos-news/">Newspaper - <em>Eos</em></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/authors/">Author Resources</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/pubs/librarians/">Librarian Resources</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/meetings/" rel="sb5">Meetings</a>  </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/" rel="sb6">Science Policy</a> <ul class="tabcontainer sci_pol"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/policy_makers.shtml">Policy Makers</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/events/">Events</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/asla/">Science Policy Alerts</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/hearing_summaries/">Hearing Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/pending_legislation/">Pending Legislation</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/visit_legislator.shtml">Visit Your Legislator</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/positions/">Position Statements</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/cong_fellowship/">Congressional Fellowship</a></li>  </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/news/" rel="sb7">News Room</a> <ul class="tabcontainer news"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/news/press/">For the Press</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/news/mass_media_fellowship/">Mass Media Fellowship</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/news/features/">Features</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/news/archives/">News Archive</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/" rel="sb8">Education</a> <ul class="tabcontainer education"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/students.shtml">Students</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/teachers.shtml">Teachers</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/professionals.shtml">Professionals</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/diversity_programs/">Diversity Programs</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/at_meetings/">At Meetings</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/education/grants/">Grants</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://careers.agu.org/" rel="sb10">Career Center</a> <ul class="tabcontainer careers"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/geoscience-workforce-research/">Geoscience Workforce Research</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/career-webinars/">Career Webinars</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/geoscience-careers/">Geoscience Careers</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/phd-granting-institutions/">PhD Granting Institutions</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/ph-d-info/">Using Your Ph.D. Wisely</a>  </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/careers/careers-in-science/career-events/">Career Events</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/" rel="sb9">Get Involved</a> <ul class="tabcontainer get_in"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/giving/">Giving to AGU</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/volunteer/">Volunteer</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/networks/">Community Networks</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> </div>  <div id="leftcol"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/networks/index.shtml"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/text/scienceNetworks.png" alt="Collaborate Your Science - AGU Online Networks" width="155" height="38" class="scinetworks"/></a>  <div id="leftnav"> <p class="header"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/"><span>About AGU</span></a></p> <ul> <li id="osNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Our Science</a> <ul id="smenu1"> <li id="rocksNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/rocks.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Rocks</a></li> <li id="waterNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/water.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Water</a></li> <li id="airNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/air.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Air</a></li> <li id="spaceNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/space.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Space</a></li> <li id="lifeNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/our_science/life.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Life</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="missionNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/mission.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Mission</a></li> <li id="planNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/strategic_plan.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Strategic Plan</a></li> <li id="presNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/presidents_msg/index.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>President's Message</a></li> <li id="e-dirNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/ed/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Executive Director</a> <ul id="smenu2"> <li id="q-and-aNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/ed/q-and-a.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Q&A with Carol Finn</a></li> <li id="goalsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/ed/goals_priorities.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Goals & Priorities</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="govNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Governance</a> <ul id="smenu3"> <li id="leadNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/leadership/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Leadership</a></li> <li id="cbNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/committees_boards/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Committees and Boards</a></li> <li id="section-fgNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/section_fg/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Section & Focus Groups</a></li> <li id="policiesNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/policies/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Policies</a></li> <li id="bylawsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/bylaws.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Bylaws</a></li> <li id="articlesincNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/articles.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Articles of Incorporation</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="honorsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Honors & Awards</a> <ul id="smenu4"> <li id="fellowsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/fellows/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Fellows</a></li> <li id="unionNav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://sites.agu.org/honors/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Union Medals, Awards & Prizes</a></li> <li id="section-fg-awNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/section_fg/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Section & Focus Group Awards</a></li> <li id="bowieNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/bowie_lectures/index.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Bowie Lectures</a></li> <li id="grantsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/honors/research_grants/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Research Grants</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="historyNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/history/"><span class="navArrow"></span>History</a> <ul id="smenu5"> <li id="bldgNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/history/building.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>The AGU Building</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="careersNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/careers/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Careers at AGU</a> <ul id="smenu6"> <li id="benefitsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/careers/benefits.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Benefits</a></li> <li id="currOppsNav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/https://jobs.agu.org/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Current Opportunities</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="contactNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/contact/"><span class="navArrow"></span>Contact Us</a> <ul id="smenu7"> <li id="staffNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/contact/staff_contacts.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Staff Contacts</a></li> <li id="directionsNav"><a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/contact/directions.shtml"><span class="navArrow"></span>Directions</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <script type="text/javascript">$('#leftnav ul li ul').css('display','none');</script> </div>  <div id="socialnav"> <div id="socialNetworking"> <div class="socLinksCont">    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.facebook.com/AmericanGeophysicalUnion?ref=ts" title="Facebook"><span class="ico facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://twitter.com/theAGU" title="Twitter"><span class="ico twitter"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.youtube.com/user/AGUvideos" title="AGU YouTube Channel"><span class="ico youtube"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=2196290&trk=" title="LinkedIn"><span class="ico linkedin"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.flickr.com/photos/americangeophysicalunion/" title="flickr"><span class="ico flicker"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://blogs.agu.org/" title="AGU Blogosphere"><span class="ico blogosphere"></span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/get_involved/networks/rss-feeds.shtml" title="RSS Feeds"><span class="ico rss"></span></a>   <a class="addthis_button" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=xa-4b0d93ed13622e8f"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631im_/http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/sm-share-en.gif" width="83" height="16" alt="Bookmark and Share" class="noborder"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=xa-4b0d93ed13622e8f"></script>   | </div> <div class="socNavCont"> <form id="socNavForm" name="socNavForm" action="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/redir.php" class="membertopics"> <select name="member_topics" id="member_topics" title="Member Hot Links"> <option selected="selected" label="Member Hot Links" value="">— Member Hot Links —</option> <optgroup label="— Members Only —"> <option value="https://www.associationsciences.org/agu/" label="My Account">My Account</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/pubs/eos-news/" label="Eos">Eos Newspaper</option> <option value="http://careers.agu.org/" label="Jobs">Career Center</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/membership_services/member_search.cgi" label="Member Directory">Member Directory</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/governance/section_fg/" class="secFocus" label="Sections/Focus Groups">Sections/Focus Groups</option> </optgroup> <optgroup label="— Member Resources —"> <option value="http://www.agu.org/membership/subscriptions.shtml" label="Subscriptions">Subscriptions</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/pubs/journals/highlights.shtml" label="Journal Highlights">Journal Highlights</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/journals/rss.shtml" label="Journals RSS Feeds">Journals RSS Feeds</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/governance/" label="AGU Governance">Governance</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/governance/leadership/" label="AGU Leadership">Leadership</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/governance/committees_boards/" label="">Committees and Boards</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/honors/" label="Honors">Honors</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/asla/" label="Legislative Alerts">Science Policy Alerts</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/governance/policies/" label="Major Policies">Major Policies</option> <option value="http://www.agu.org/about/contact/staff_contacts.shtml" label="Staff Contacts">Staff Contacts</option> </optgroup> </select> <input type="submit" value="Go" class="go"/> </form> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $('#socNavForm .go').hide(0); //socialNav init AGUSocNav.initSocialNav(); </script> </div> <div id="crumbs"> <script language="javascript" src="/web/20120127094631js_/http://www.agu.org/scripts/navBreadcrumbs.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </div>      <div id="rightcol"> <img src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/about/history/images/agu_bldg3.jpg" alt="AGU Building - Front Entrance" class="border"/> </div>   <div id="content"> <h1>AGU Headquarters Building</h1> <img src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/about/history/images/agu_bldg2.jpg" alt="AGU Building" class="imgLeft border"/> <p>The design of the AGU headquarters building was conceived in response to AGU's strong desire to create an architecture identifiable with its organization and which expressed the spirit of its various scientific disciplines. At the same time, the building's scale and materials are compatible with those of the surrounding historic district, making it a friendly addition to the largely residential area. The striking building near Dupont Circle in downtown Washington D.C. has five levels above ground plus two levels below ground, and AGU offices occupy 36,280 square feet including a state-of-the-art conference center.</p> <p>Symbolism starts on the exterior of the building. Along the sidewalks, the planets and their orbits around the Sun are represented by brass and marble. A point representing the Sun is located in the plaza at the corner of Florida and 20th Street. The distance of the planets from the Sun are relative, with aphelion distances (when the planets are farthest away from the Sun) along Florida, and perihelion distances (closest to the Sun) along 20th Street.</p> <p>The building's facade mirrors the changes in density within the Earth. The thick precast bands (molded from a Pennsylvania limestone) at the base of the building are topped by lighter bands of brick. The recessed windows and curtainwall on the 5th floor add to the solid look of the masonry. The pattern on the frieze that encircles the building represents the disciplines studied by AGU members: space and the planets, the atmosphere, solid Earth and the hydrosphere.</p> <p>In the foyer at the main entrance on Florida Avenue, the masonry strata dip into the building where the glass prism meets the ground. Inside the lobby, the panels of sapeli mahogany with their crossfire pattern recall the waves on a seismogram. The petrified wood on top of the front desk is a literal example of geologic forces; wood similar to that on the paneling has become stone. The petrified wood is from the Santa Fe Railroad's right-of-way in Arizona. On the floor is a marble and granite compass rose, 10 ft in diameter that points true north. The circle at the center of the compass represents Earth and the outer ring of the compass is proportional to the orbit of the Moon and the Earth. The arc outside the entrance represents the diameter of the Sun as compared to the size of the Earth in the compass.</p> <p>The building was designed by Shalom Baranes Associates and was completed in June 1994.</p>  <div class="event weatherbox"> <div class="wb-left"> <img src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/home/weather/did-u-know.jpg" alt="Did You Know?" title="Did You Know?" width="182" id="didu"/> <img src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/home/weather/tower_full.jpg" alt="Toxic-plume research tower" title="Toxic-plume research tower" width="182" class="dyn"/> </div> <p class="wb-title">A Toxic-plume research tower stands atop AGU's roof</p> <p>In June 2007, a gleaming, 30-feet-tall tower was erected on the AGU building's roof, intended to enhance geoscience and national security. A team of researchers installed the tower and outfitted it with weather instruments to be used in a new scientific data-gathering network, known as <strong>UrbaNet</strong>.</p> <p>The Washington, D.C.-area network is the first of its kind in the United States. The goal of the network's developers is to refine atmospheric models so that they can predict, neighborhood by neighborhood, where a plume of toxic or radioactive contaminants will go. Such a plume might be released from an accident or terrorist attack.</p> <p><strong>UrbaNet</strong> is a program of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The research will also serve the Department of Homeland Security.</p> <br class="clear"/> <div class="wb-bottom"> <p class="view centeralign"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://dcnet.atdd.noaa.gov/GraphSite.php?SiteID=DC021&Submit=Get+Site+Data&StartDate=2010-05-03+11%3A00%3A00&EndDate=2010-05-04+11%3A00%3A00"> View Current Conditions at AGU Headquarters</a> <img src="/web/20120127094631im_/http://www.agu.org/images/icons/arrowOrangecircle.gif" alt=""/></p> <br class="clear"/> </div> </div>     </div>  <div id="footer"><p class="copyright">©<script type="text/javascript"> D = new Date(); year = D.getFullYear(); document.write(year); </script>. American Geophysical Union. | All rights reserved. | Read our <a href="/web/20120127094631/http://www.agu.org/about/governance/policies/privacy.shtml">privacy policy</a>.</p>  </div> <div id="tagline"><p>AGU galvanizes a community of Earth and space scientists that collaboratively advances and communicates science and its power to ensure a sustainable future.</p> </div>  </div>    <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script><noscript><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://cheetahfetch.com/">web dir</a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120127094631/http://www.besthype.com/">web dir</a></noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> try{ var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-466546-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} </script>   </div> </body> </html>