The most famous pentagonal building in the world is the Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Its shape was no accident — the pentagonal design was chosen for very practical reasons.
Construction of the Pentagon began on September 11, 1941, just before the United States entered World War II. At the time, the Department of Defense was spread across seventeen different buildings. With a major war on the horizon, officials decided to build one central headquarters that would bring everyone together in a single place.
The architects decided that a pentagonal complex was the best solution. This shape makes better use of space and allows all Department of Defense employees to move around quickly. It is said that it takes only 7 minutes to walk from one part of the building to any other — which is vital in an emergency.
Today, the Pentagon is almost like a small city on its own. Inside you can find bus stops, a fire station, a police station, a shopping area, restaurants, and even a metro station.
The Pentagon houses approximately 23,000 employees — both military and civilian — making it one of the largest office buildings in the world.
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