Facilities History
History of Social Security Buildings
The following photographs show the various buildings and locations that Social Security occupied across the Baltimore region.
707 Calvert- Social Security occupied this building from 1967 to 1980. This was the newest of the downtown sites SSA occupied before moving to the Metro-West building. The earnings record certification process was housed on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors.
Butler- Social Security occupied this building from the 1940s to the late 1950s. The Baltimore Payment Center was housed here. After the 1956 Disability Benefit Program was signed into law, the Division of Disability Operations moved in as well. Space= 57,975 square feet.
Candler- Social Security occupied this building from 1936 to 1960. Approximately 2,000 employees were hired initially to enumerate an estimated 26 million wage earners and 3.5 million employers. Space= 275,650 square feet.
Candler- Social Security occupied this building from 1936 to 1960. This is the employee's cafeteria. Although it served from 2200 to 2400 employees per day, it only had a total seating capacity of 154.
Candler- Social Security occupied this building from 1936 to 1960. This is a WWII era recruitment brochure.
Candler- Social Security occupied this building from 1936 to 1960. This is a WWII era recruitment brochure.
Civic Howard- Social Security occupied this building from 1965 to 1980. The building was built in 1902 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on property formerly occupied by a paper warehouse. The operations to convert the SS-5 file to an automated system were performed in this building.
Court Square- This seventeen story building was built in 1929. Social Security rented it for additional workspace until the opening of the Woodlawn complex in 1960.
Dickinson- The Dickinson building was constructed in Woodlawn to house SSA disability program employees. The building opened in January 1969 and is still in use.
Equitable- This ten story building was built in 1891, and is known as Baltimore's first skyscraper. In 1942, the central administrative offices of the Bureau of Old- Age Survivors Insurance transferred to this building to relieve the crowded conditions in D.C. Social Security occupied 55,791 square feet, scattered from the 5th to 9th floors.
Falconer- Social Security occupied this building from 1955 to 1960. Social Security's Numerical Register was housed on the 6th and 7th floors. Information on wage earners was maintained in SSN sequence in over 12,000 ledger books, which were stacked 4 to 5 deep on tables. SSA occupied 38,853 square feet.
Franklin- Social Security occupied this building prior to moving into the Woodlawn headquarters in 1960.
Hamburger's- Social Security occupied this building prior to moving into the Woodlawn headquarters in 1960.
Hillen Fallsway- Social Security occupied this building from 1950 to 1962. The operations previously housed in the Butler building moved into this building.
Hopkins Place- Social Security occupied this building prior to moving into the Woodlawn headquarters in 1960.
Metro West- The future site of the Metro West complex.
Metro West- This complex was built from 1976-1980 at a cost of 92 million dollars. In February 1980, 5,200 employees of the Office of Central Records Operations (OCRO) began moving in. The 600,000 square foot facility sits on 11 acres in downtown Baltimore.
Metro West- This complex was built from 1976-1980 at a cost of 92 million dollars. In February 1980, 5,200 employees of the Office of Central Records Operations (OCRO) began moving in. The 600,000 square foot facility sits on 11 acres in downtown Baltimore.
Metro West- This complex was built from 1976-1980 at a cost of 92 million dollars. This photo was taken at the October 29, 1980 building dedication ceremony. Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer, HHS Secretary Patricia Harris, SSA Commissioner William Driver and Region III Administrator Clarence Lee were honorary speakers.
Metro West- This complex was built from 1976-1980 at a cost of 92 million dollars. This photo was taken at the October 29, 1980 building dedication ceremony. Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer and HHS Secretary Patricia Harris pose for the camera.
Miller- Social Security rented this building in 1949 for service and warehousing activities. Space= 82,518 square feet.
National Computer Center (NCC)- Construction of SSA's dedicated data center started in 1976. The center opened in 1980 and contains critical data and computer operations for millions of SSA beneficiaries.
National Computer Center (NCC)- Construction of SSA's dedicated data center started in 1976. The center opened in 1980 and contains critical data and computer operations for millions of SSA beneficiaries.
National Computer Center (NCC)- Construction of SSA's dedicated data center started in 1976. The center opened in 1980 and contains critical data and computer operations for millions of SSA beneficiaries.
National Computer Center (NCC)- Construction of SSA's dedicated data center started in 1976. The center opened in 1980 and contains critical data and computer operations for millions of SSA beneficiaries.
Calvert- Social Security occupied this building from 1953 to 1960. The Division of Management was located here, providing administrative support to all the operating components scattered throughout Baltimore city.
Paca-Pratt- Social Security occupied this building twice, from the 1940s to 1960 and again from 1966 to 1980. Many of the central records functions were performed here, such as establishing and maintaining social security numbers, quarterly posting and balancing of earnings and related inquiry and correspondence activities. Space= 104,502 square feet.
Paca-Pratt- Social Security occupied this building twice, from the 1940s to 1960 and again from 1966 to 1980. Many of the central records functions were performed here, such as establishing and maintaining social security numbers, quarterly posting and balancing of earnings and related inquiry and correspondence activities. Space= 104,502 square feet.
Paca-Pratt- Social Security occupied this building twice, from the 1940s to 1960 and again from 1966 to 1980. Many of the central records functions were performed here, such as establishing and maintaining social security numbers, quarterly posting and balancing of earnings and related inquiry and correspondence activities. Space= 104,502 square feet.
Southern Supply- Prior to the completion of the Woodlawn complex, Social Security used the Southern Supply building for semi-active records and temporary storage. Space= 34,728 square feet.
Standard Oil- Social Security occupied this building prior to moving into the Woodlawn headquarters in 1960.