St. Elizabeths Hospital, Power House, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Southeast, Ash Street, Southeast, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

For an overview of the Systems and Infrastructure Buildings, see HABS DC-349-CD
Significance: The Power House (Building 56/57) served important support functions for the west campus throughout its history of use. It is significant for its association with the development of campus-wide infrastructure to support the west campus of St. Elizabeths. The Power House is a significant part of the campus plan as it developed in the early part of the twentieth century. The building is representative of the intended self-sufficiency of the campus at that time.
The Power House is significant for its architectural design, as an example of a distinctive industrial building with Italian Renaissance Revival-inspired design elements on the St. Elizabeths campus. The building is also of interest architecturally for its character-defining masonry construction, brick smokestacks, open interior plan, and associated railroad trestle. With its two smokestacks, the Power House is one of the most visible components of the west campus.
Survey number: HABS DC-349-BN
Building/structure dates: 1904-1910 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 79003101