twin中等

In December of 1869, Congress appointed a commission to select a site and prepare plans and cost estimates for a new State Department Building. The commission was also to consider possible arrangements for the War and Navy Departments. To the horror of some who expected a Greek Revival twin of the Treasury Building to be erected on the other side of the White House, the elaborate French Second Empire style design by Alfred Mullett was selected, and construction of a building to house all three departments began in June of 1871.

1869年12月，国会任命了一个委员会，为新的国务院大楼选址，并制定规划和成本预算。该委员会还要考虑为陆军部和海军部作出可能的安排。令一些人震惊的是——他们原本期待在白宫另一侧建起一座与财政部大楼如出一辙的希腊复兴式建筑——阿尔弗雷德·马利特设计的精致的法国第二帝国风格方案被选中，一座容纳全部三个部门的大楼于1871年6月开工建设。