A team under the management of Konstantin Thon, who also designed the Kremlin Armoury and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, built the palace from 1837 to 1849 as the tsar's Moscow residence. The infobox lists Russian Revival and Byzantine Revival styles, while the body describes a plan typical of late classicism with Russian-Byzantine window decoration.
It is 154 feet (47 m) high and about 269,000 square feet (25,000 m²), with over 700 rooms, nine churches and a 66-step grand staircase. The state halls are named for Russian orders. The Georgievsky is the largest, with 18 pylons, and the Aleksandrovsky is 102 by 66 feet (31 by 20 m).
After 1917 the facade's imperial eagles were replaced with Soviet symbols. The palace is now the president's official working residence, and inaugurations take place in Andreyevsky Hall. Excursions run during gaps in official events, by request to the Commandant's Office.
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