U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Administration Building, Russell Avenue at Port Royal Street, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

Significance: It is significant as the first administration building at Pearl Harbor and one which had been the main administration center since the early years of the base and for most of the 20th century. During WWII it was the sire of important administrative offices, including the Navy's command center for harbor defense and the radio intelligence unit. Both of these were located in the basement of this facility in the early years of the war. This was where intelligence officers broke Japanese naval codes, providing a crucial advantage which guided American strategy in the Pacific. The facility's climate-sensitive design also is significant and its architectural form is unique at Pearl Harbor. Its architectural character was established by the 1913 two-story, 10-bay building. Although the present three-story building is about five times the original size and reflects elements of its many phases of expansion, a simple classical style has been maintained in all sections of the building. This building is an important contributing resource to the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark.
Survey number: HABS HI-407
Building/structure dates: 1913 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1918 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1926 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1937 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1941 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000940