The Cairo Building - Washington's early high-rise

The Cairo, completed in 1894 and designed by Thomas Franklin Schneider, is a 12-story residential building at the edge of Dupont Circle noted for its ornate façade and early high-rise form. Its height provoked public debate about tall buildings in the capital and helped spark the movement that led to Washington's Height of Buildings Act restricting building heights; the degree of its direct influence is discussed among historians. The Cairo remains a distinctive and historically documented residential landmark in the city.