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The Federal Building, Grand Island, Nebraska is a historic post office, federal office and courthouse building located at Grand Island in Hall County, Nebraska. It is no longer used as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.
Grand Island United States Post Office and Courthouse | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 Federal Building | |
   | |
| Location | 203 W. Second St., Grand Island, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°55′27″N 98°20′25″W / 40.92417°N 98.34028°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | John Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000044 |
| Added to NRHP | February 14, 2006 |
Building history
In 1859, just two years after they founded Grand Island, Nebraska, German settlers established the community's first post office. For many years, however, the post office shared space with various commercial establishments. When Congressman George W. Norris secured funding for a new post office building during the early years of the 20th century, Grand Island was one of the last major cities in Nebraska to lack this important type of public building.
Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor designed the new post office and federal building in Grand Island, authorizing the final architectural plans in 1908. Workers completed the building, which officially opened on November 26, 1910, at a cost of $108,000. By this time, Grand Island was the third largest city in Nebraska and its economy was thriving.
Postal facilities occupied the first floor of the new building, while the second floor held a two-story district courtroom and associated court offices. As its population increased, Grand Island required expanded postal services and additional federal office space. In 1933, local architect designed an addition to the building, which opened in 1935. Two years later, the post office began housing the headquarters for Grand Island's Works Progress Administration (WPA) district office, a function that it served until 1939.
In 1968, the U.S. Postal Service vacated the building after securing a new facility. The same year, the U.S. General Services Administration purchased the building and renovated the first floor into office space for federal agencies. Current tenants include the FBI, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Federal Building is located in downtown Grand Island, close to the county courthouse and various retail establishments and residential buildings. The Grand Island Federal Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 to recognize its architectural significance and contribution to community development.
Architecture
The Grand Island Federal Building is a visually restrained but striking local landmark, occupying the southwest corner of the intersection of West Second and North Locust streets. Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor preferred classically inspired styles, deeming them appropriately dignified for public architecture. The Federal Building is an example of the Neoclassical architectural style, exhibiting design components derived from Greek, Roman, and Renaissance traditions. Taylor also supported the use of high-quality building materials, ensuring that the buildings constructed under his tenure would have lasting presences in their towns and cities.
The two-story Federal Building faces north onto Second Street. It is constructed of buff-colored brick, some of which is laid in decorative herringbone patterns, with limestone trim. The original portion of the building, which is constructed on a limestone foundation, is symmetrical, with the 1935 addition extending to the west. The central block projects slightly, articulating the entrance, which is reached by a small flight of stairs. A large wood door with carved medallions and inset metal grilles is centered in the central block. The first story features three round-arch openings that contain cast-iron frames and transoms with decorative circular, oval, and floral patterns. The arched openings are topped with scrolled limestone keystones flanked by circular medallions. Vertically aligned with the arches on the second story of the facade, three central windows feature small balconets with cast-iron balustrades. The bays are divided by two-story pilasters with stylized capitals. The pilasters support a classical entablature that features an architrave, frieze, and cornice with a dentil course. On the original portion of the building, other openings are rectangular and topped by flat arches with limestone keystones. A roofline brick parapet wall with limestone coping and pedestals is on the original portion of the building. A secondary entrance, located on the east elevation, features a limestone surround with a decorative lintel carved with a foliated motif. An original cast-iron light fixture with replacement globe extends from the lintel. The rear elevation contains an original U-shaped light court. The chimney, clad in brick and topped with a limestone cap, extends from the southeastern corner of the low-pitched hipped roof, which is covered with standing-seam metal. The 1935 addition is constructed of buff-colored brick, but lacks the original structure's decorative classical details.
The postal lobby once spanned the length of the facade on the first floor. Although the postal lobby features have been removed, original materials remain. These finishes include the terrazzo and marble floor, and marble and plaster walls. Round-arch openings with wood frames and a vaulted ceiling with original pendant chandeliers dominate the space. An original staircase with dark green marble risers and pink marble treads at the east end of the lobby provides access to the second floor. An ornate cast-iron lamp post atop a marble pedestal and surmounted by a spherical globe is located adjacent to the staircase. On the second floor, the two-story courtroom has been subdivided, but the corridors retain original materials, including terrazzo and marble flooring, plaster walls, and wood doors and frames.
Over the course of the building's history, it has undergone periodic upgrades and renovations, not always in keeping with the structure's historic character. In 1979 and 1980, original wood-sash windows were replaced with aluminum windows; however, the windows' original dimensions remain intact. Recently, GSA corrected some prior work that altered historic features. Most notably, the agency removed an inappropriate aluminum door from the Locust Street elevation and installed a replica of the original door.
History
- 1908 Construction begins
- 1910 Construction completed and building occupied
- 1933-1935 Addition constructed
- 1968 Post office relocates; GSA purchases building and begins renovation
- 1979-1980 Original wood-sash windows replaced
- 2006 Building listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Building facts
- Location: 203 West Second Street
- Architects: James Knox Taylor; Charles W. Steinbaugh
- Construction Dates: 1908-1910; 1933–1935
- Architectural Style: Neoclassical
- Landmark Status: Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
- Primary Materials: Buff-colored Brick; Limestone
- Prominent Features: Arched Openings with Ornate Limestone Keystones; Original Lobby with Historic Finishes
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- "GSA - Find a Building". Federal Building, Grand Island, NE : Building Overview. U.S. General Services Administration. August 24, 2009.
Attribution
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the General Services Administration.
Author: www.NiNa.Az
Publication date:
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The Federal Building Grand Island Nebraska is a historic post office federal office and courthouse building located at Grand Island in Hall County Nebraska It is no longer used as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska Grand Island United States Post Office and CourthouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesFederal BuildingShow map of NebraskaShow map of the United StatesLocation203 W Second St Grand Island NebraskaCoordinates40 55 27 N 98 20 25 W 40 92417 N 98 34028 W 40 92417 98 34028Arealess than one acreBuilt1908ArchitectJohn Knox TaylorArchitectural styleClassical RevivalNRHP reference No 06000044Added to NRHPFebruary 14 2006Building historyIn 1859 just two years after they founded Grand Island Nebraska German settlers established the community s first post office For many years however the post office shared space with various commercial establishments When Congressman George W Norris secured funding for a new post office building during the early years of the 20th century Grand Island was one of the last major cities in Nebraska to lack this important type of public building Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor designed the new post office and federal building in Grand Island authorizing the final architectural plans in 1908 Workers completed the building which officially opened on November 26 1910 at a cost of 108 000 By this time Grand Island was the third largest city in Nebraska and its economy was thriving Postal facilities occupied the first floor of the new building while the second floor held a two story district courtroom and associated court offices As its population increased Grand Island required expanded postal services and additional federal office space In 1933 local architect designed an addition to the building which opened in 1935 Two years later the post office began housing the headquarters for Grand Island s Works Progress Administration WPA district office a function that it served until 1939 In 1968 the U S Postal Service vacated the building after securing a new facility The same year the U S General Services Administration purchased the building and renovated the first floor into office space for federal agencies Current tenants include the FBI Bureau of Reclamation and U S Fish and Wildlife Service The Federal Building is located in downtown Grand Island close to the county courthouse and various retail establishments and residential buildings The Grand Island Federal Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 to recognize its architectural significance and contribution to community development ArchitectureThe Grand Island Federal Building is a visually restrained but striking local landmark occupying the southwest corner of the intersection of West Second and North Locust streets Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor preferred classically inspired styles deeming them appropriately dignified for public architecture The Federal Building is an example of the Neoclassical architectural style exhibiting design components derived from Greek Roman and Renaissance traditions Taylor also supported the use of high quality building materials ensuring that the buildings constructed under his tenure would have lasting presences in their towns and cities The two story Federal Building faces north onto Second Street It is constructed of buff colored brick some of which is laid in decorative herringbone patterns with limestone trim The original portion of the building which is constructed on a limestone foundation is symmetrical with the 1935 addition extending to the west The central block projects slightly articulating the entrance which is reached by a small flight of stairs A large wood door with carved medallions and inset metal grilles is centered in the central block The first story features three round arch openings that contain cast iron frames and transoms with decorative circular oval and floral patterns The arched openings are topped with scrolled limestone keystones flanked by circular medallions Vertically aligned with the arches on the second story of the facade three central windows feature small balconets with cast iron balustrades The bays are divided by two story pilasters with stylized capitals The pilasters support a classical entablature that features an architrave frieze and cornice with a dentil course On the original portion of the building other openings are rectangular and topped by flat arches with limestone keystones A roofline brick parapet wall with limestone coping and pedestals is on the original portion of the building A secondary entrance located on the east elevation features a limestone surround with a decorative lintel carved with a foliated motif An original cast iron light fixture with replacement globe extends from the lintel The rear elevation contains an original U shaped light court The chimney clad in brick and topped with a limestone cap extends from the southeastern corner of the low pitched hipped roof which is covered with standing seam metal The 1935 addition is constructed of buff colored brick but lacks the original structure s decorative classical details The postal lobby once spanned the length of the facade on the first floor Although the postal lobby features have been removed original materials remain These finishes include the terrazzo and marble floor and marble and plaster walls Round arch openings with wood frames and a vaulted ceiling with original pendant chandeliers dominate the space An original staircase with dark green marble risers and pink marble treads at the east end of the lobby provides access to the second floor An ornate cast iron lamp post atop a marble pedestal and surmounted by a spherical globe is located adjacent to the staircase On the second floor the two story courtroom has been subdivided but the corridors retain original materials including terrazzo and marble flooring plaster walls and wood doors and frames Over the course of the building s history it has undergone periodic upgrades and renovations not always in keeping with the structure s historic character In 1979 and 1980 original wood sash windows were replaced with aluminum windows however the windows original dimensions remain intact Recently GSA corrected some prior work that altered historic features Most notably the agency removed an inappropriate aluminum door from the Locust Street elevation and installed a replica of the original door History1908 Construction begins 1910 Construction completed and building occupied 1933 1935 Addition constructed 1968 Post office relocates GSA purchases building and begins renovation 1979 1980 Original wood sash windows replaced 2006 Building listed in the National Register of Historic PlacesBuilding factsLocation 203 West Second Street Architects James Knox Taylor Charles W Steinbaugh Construction Dates 1908 1910 1933 1935 Architectural Style Neoclassical Landmark Status Listed in the National Register of Historic Places Primary Materials Buff colored Brick Limestone Prominent Features Arched Openings with Ornate Limestone Keystones Original Lobby with Historic FinishesReferences National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 GSA Find a Building Federal Building Grand Island NE Building Overview U S General Services Administration August 24 2009 Attribution This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the General Services Administration Wikimedia Commons has media related to Federal Building Grand Island Nebraska