Nomination for United States Post Office and Courthouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

ECEIVED 2280 NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. Aug. 2002) APR 27 2012 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior NAT. REGISTER OF STORIC PLACES Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to 1. Name of Property Historic name United States Post Office and Courthouse Other names/site number Joseph P. Kinneary U. S. Courthouse 2. Location Street & Number 85 Marconi Boulevard Not for Publication N/A City or Town 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60.

In my opinion, the property State or Federal Agency or Tribal government Signature of commenting official/Title State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification 1, hereby certify that this property is: Date of Action entered in the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain): 43215 Registration 330 Vicinity State nomination Columbus Date Ohio Zip Code complete all items. See continuation sheet. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NATIONAL PARK SERVICE This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A).

Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate Code OH County Signature of eertifying official ) In my opinion, the property meets Apr:l 13,2012 box orby entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." See continuation sheet for additional comments.) 049 Franklin For functions,architectural classification,materials,and areas of significance,enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. 6.6.12 United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property x building(s) Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) 6.

Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: GOVERNMENT Sub: Courthouse Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) LATE NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY REVIVALS Classical Revival: Neo-Classical Revival Materials (Enter categories from instructions) METAL: steel (frame) STONE: Sandstone, Granite METAL: Aluminum, Brass Please see Section 7 Continuation Sheets. Noncontributing total roof public-state object structure private district other walls public-federal site public-local Government Office Narrative Description(Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Post Office (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) CONCRETE; METAL: steel foundation Sub: NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio Constructed in 1934 as the United Stated Post Office and Courthouse, it is a fine example of the Neo-Classical are well integrated into the rich detail of the prevailing Classical vocabulary. Besides its architectural resolution of a unique urban footprint, other primary character-defining exterior features include a monumental colonnade on the north side of the building, adjacent to the garage/concourse. the west façade angles out to follow the curve of the Scioto River. The exterior of the building is clad with Ohio openings above. At the base of the third story windows is a sloped sill cap covered with flashing.

Structures Report: Federal Building/ United States Courthouse, Columbus Ohio (Chicago: U.S. General Services Administration Summary Description finish. General Description (8-02) Region 5, 1992). monumental architecture.The building also shows some Moderne influence,seen in its interior features that Section 7 Page style, combining both Greek and Renaissance Revival elements that convey the federal presence through light court above the second floor. The three sides of the building that are next to streets are orthogonal while lintel below an ornamented cornice. This cornice features dentil molding below two shallow courses, one with ' Ratio Architects, Inc., Building Preservation Plan (BPP), Federal Building/ U.S. Courthouse, Columbus, Ohio OH0046ZZ (Indianapolis, IN: Ratio Architects Inc., 1999), Stage II Zone Description.

See also The Office of John Vinci, Inc, et al., Historic The five story, flat-roofed federal building at 85 Marconi Boulevard in downtown Columbus, Ohio, occupies an bounded by West Long Street on the north, Marconi Boulevard on the east, Battelle Riverfront Park on the prominent site, just north of a small park and adjacent to the river. spandrels between the third and fourth floor windows around the building are Virginia green stone with a honed largest element consists of a series of three story tall, recessed bays beginning at the second floor. Each continues around the corners of the building. Breaking the verticality of these three story openings, below the alternating carvings of chevrons and floral patterns;the other ornamented with triglyph molding and NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio articulated cornice below and a capstone above. Two gable-roofed penthouses containing mechanical equipment surmount the structure on the east and west monitors are located on the north side. Above the one story component, the walls facing the interior of the U unglazed parapet on all other elevations. punctuated by various carved ornaments incised below the surface plane and located at regular intervals. The tailures, including extensive exfoliation.

Inappropriate repairs made decades ago, including application of parging, patch coating, replacement of original mortar joints with polyurethane sealant, application of a penetrating sealer to all stones and application of a painted coating to stones that had been parged, further exacerbated the deterioration and diminished the exterior appearance. Deterioration has been particularly expected to be completed in 2013. window on the third floor, the windows are bronze-anodized aluminum non-operable sash units installed in the iron grille work, as do the window openings to the basement. will include the removal of all joint sealant and repointing of joints with lime-based mortar; patching, resurfacing, and dutchman installation below the cornice level and reconstruction of the fifth floor parapet with conserved original sandstone (decorative elements) and cast stone to match.

By letter dated September 11, 2011, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office concurred with the Regional Historic Preservation Office, Great Lakes Region, U.S. General Services Administration that the work conforms to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and will have no adverse effect on historic properties. 3 The ongoing rehabilitation project also involves the replacing the glazing in all non-original windows. (8-02) Section 7 Page 2 details just below the ridge of the gable on both ends. The north elevation, which closes the U, consists of a The original windows were single-glazed steel operable casement and awning units. With the exception of one early 1980s. The typical spandrels between the third and fourth floor windows around the building are Virginia wings.

They are sheathed in sandstone with simple exterior pilasters, roofed in metal, and feature roundel The building's exterior is clad with buff-colored Ohio sandstone above a pink-gray Cold Spring Rainbow granite building is capped with a simple dentilated coping. The building's sandstone exhibits multiple long term significant at the fifth floor parapet level and the one story garage which exhibit pinkish discoloration in sections garage/concourse. 2The building is currently undergoing a rehabilitation project that will involve treatment of the failing sandstone. The scope of work The central one story component filling the interior of the U-shaped plan features four roof NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio The terminating north elevations of the east and west wings are identical and similar to the other elevations in Exterior Elevations The east elevation is the principal public entrance and faces Marconi Boulevard. Like the west elevation, it is grille work, described below. In 2010, a ramp was constructed at the southern entrance of the east elevation for accessibility. The existing stair was shifted forward, the top landing raised and an additional step added in order to accommodate the ramp. shrubs and ground cover are seen at this façade. South Elevation facades, but has no entrances. The granite water table on the east and west elevations continues onto the south elevation and terminates in a concrete foundation.

The pilasters step forward from the plain stone walls with a belt course and modest cornice returning from the eagle. East Elevation (8-02) (Expires 1-31-2009) Continuation Sheet National Register of Historic Places The fifth story of the east elevation hasa central inscription incised with Roman-style lettering that reads Section 7 Page 3 course of stone dividing the upper portions of the two story tall window openings. the north and south ends of the building.Each entrance isaccessedby a stair of rounded granite steps with identical width feature distinctive Swenson Pink granite low reliefs carved with floral motifs. The lintels are further distinguished by dentil molding and a plain cornice. Each entrance is flanked by inset, unglazed the sandstone wall.

The center of the grilles feature an eight-pointed starburst, a motif maintained in interior The south elevation faces a small, riverside park whose trees and pathways are placed in coordination with the granite blocks that project roughly five feet outward from the south elevation. Between these blocks is a east and west elevations. The row of pilasters alternates with window bays and terminates at each end with a pair of pilasters separatedby a recessed stone wall that houses small, thin openings covered with grilles at the rectangular openings that contain ornamental wrought-iron grilles within a plain sandstone band, recessed into distinguished by bronze panels inset into the upper portions of the three story tall window openings.Some symmetrically organized with a series of thirteen bays and fourteen pilasters recessed into the larger NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio of the windows at the five center bays, which open into the double-height space of Courtroom 1, located at the building, lack stone spandrels and instead have highly articulated wrought-iron grilles featuring eagles and Greek fretwork. West Elevation Like the east elevation, the west elevation is symmetrically organized with a series of bays and pilasters north and south ends of the building. Each entrance is accessed by a stair of rounded granite steps with slightly rounded treads flanked by broad stone balustrades and large stone urns. The entrance surrounds of grille work, described below.

As on the east elevation the fifth story of the west elevation has a central panels with eagle topped swords. Three major sandstone-clad features characterize the north elevation: the three story tall open colonnade that pink granite water table and the sandstone belt course located between the first and second floors on the other (8-02) North Elevation (Expires 1-31-2009) depicting Justice is flanked by carved figures ofhumans and animalsperforming various agricultural tasks.At panel representing industry and agriculture's role in civic life and the life of the nation. A large seated figure further distinguished by dentil molding and a plain cornice. Each entrance is flanked by inset, unglazed story open air garage/concourse adjoining the base of the colonnade.

The imposing three story tall colonnade coping above the cornice rises at the center of the colonnade and supports a sandstone cartouche incised as a each end of the adjacent entablature is a low-relief octagonal carving of the great seal of the United States, following the angle of the river. The public entrances are symmetrically located a short distance from both the identical width feature distinctive Swenson Pink granite low reliefs carved with floral motifs. The lintels are inscription incised with Roman-style lettering that reads "UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE," flanked by low relief carvings of a hexagonal great seal of the United States and rectangular joins the east and west wings of the building; the terminating walls of the east and west wings; and the one- roof. An entrance ramp is located at the east end of the garage/concourse. tablet with vertical incisions.

The tablet is flanked by carved stone eagles, one facing east, the other west. NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio sides. Its east-west curved ends are banded in patinaed copper. Its interior has exposed steel bow trusses the postal fleet. This area now serves as a high-security parking lot, with an attendant booth located at the site's northwest corner, and a drop-off and loading area.It has vehicular entries at its east and west ends. Its northern wall features low relief pilasters that define eight unglazed openings in the garage's main level. parking is located on the east side. openings. A deep lintel is paneled with carved rosettes on both ends and a central octagonal tray medallion.

A hexagonal, sandstone-clad boiler stack, shaped to look like a tall bell tower, is located south of the colonnade. Due to masonry failure, this stack will be reconstructed to replicate the original appearance, except that it will be clad in cast stone rather than sandstone. additional space is composed of an interconnected suite of rooms, most of which do not have direct access to shaped double-loaded corridors. The corridors do not extend all the way to the north ends of the building, locations, portions of the original corridors have been incorporated into the suites. (8-02) Interior (Expires 1-31-2009) elevations. The belt course returns around the north elevations of the east and west wings and continues as a monitor from the street.

This monitor also features a full-length steel-framed band of clerestory windows on all postal sorting and distribution areas at the rear (north end) of the building on the ground floor and parking for These openings contain simple iron grilles. Below the water table, the north side of the building is flanked by a The building footprint is trapezoidal, angling out on the west side to follow the edge of the Scioto River. There is a large central light court above the second floor. Below the light court, on the basement and ground floor block of rooms. On the west side, where the footprint angles out to follow the edge of the Scioto River, the the corridor. As when constructed, the basement level primarily houses storage and mechanical uses.

Although the ground floor is similar to the basement level in that it fills the entire trapezoidal area, it has a wide double-loaded "U" shaped public corridor servicing the rooms along the perimeter of the building and a open postal workroom, where postal employees sorted mail while supervisors monitored the work from the mezzanine level at the rear (north end), but is now broken into a series of smaller spaces for tenant office stopping at varying points to allow large office suites at the north end of each corridor wing. At several parapet around the west side of the garage/concourse, where it hides the gentle convex curve of the inset roof below-grade paved walkway or areaway, approximately three feet wide. Here windows overlooking the lower There is a large original bronze pendant light fixture suspended from a wall bracket on each column.

floor plate is a "U" shape with the west side of the "U" slanting out at an angle. space. The monumental corridor served as the postal lobby. The second through the fifth floors narrower"U" NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Continuation Sheet Section 7 Page 6 United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio the original finishes and materials. The floors are covered with quarry tile with a Westfield Green marble resemble wood, are still extant. The second floor door openings feature marble door surrounds. described in detail below. Ground Floor Corridors ceiling height of the south corridor is approximately eighteen feet while the height of the east and west corridor ceilings is approximately sixteen and one-half feet. Although portions of the east and west corridors have been marble.

The baseboard is Westfield Green marble. The walls have a marble wainscot extending eight feet above the floor surface. It is composed of two types of marble, Nebo Golden Travis. Above the wainscot, each bay is further subdivided by two fluted lonic columns form the transition to the ceiling surfaces. containing foliate motifs. Along each wall, inset in the ceiling field between the coffers and fretwork border, are (8-02) National Register of Historic Places original double height courtrooms, as well as judicial offices. The third floor courtroom ceilings extend into the twenty-two feet in width while the east and west corridors are thirteen and twelve feet wide, respectively. The treatments are similar in all three of the corridors. The floor field is green and tan terrazzo subdivided by silver- wainscot panels are divided into bays by full-height pilasters of St.

Genevieve Rose, which extend from the floor to the articulated ceiling cove molding. The projecting pilaster capitals are a darker, variegated brown with floral medallions. Gilt and glazed octagonal coffers highlight the field of the ceiling with beads surrounding Although altered, the remaining portions of the original corridors on the second through the fifth floors retain a half-height wainscot of St. Genevieve Golden Vein marble. Original metal doors and frames, painted to The ground and second floors provide office space for a variety of federal agencies. The third floor houses two fourth floor, while the remainder of the fourth and the fifth floors provide offices for a variety of federal resemble modern offices with few original materials or elements. Typically, the renovated offices feature carpeted floors, plaster or drywall walls and suspended acoustical tile ceilings.

Unlike these office spaces, the many original furnishings and finishes. These two areas, which share some of the same material palette, are central floral medallions. The octagonal coffers are arranged in a regular pattern across the ceiling. The NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Section 7 Page 7 United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio corridor but simpler in their detailing.* signage, light fixtures, and door hardware. The radiator grilles are white bronze, finely chased.Its detailing include a Greek key base, bundles of wheat interspersed with circles at the upper border, starbursts at the center of each side panel, and a central eagle and arrow motif.

The elevator doors have cast aluminum jambs from cast white bronze and glazed with acid-etched French opal glass. doors and frame cladding are polished aluminum, while door hardware and thresholds are white bronze. The Courtroom Lobby The court lobby outside Courtroom 1 retains its original quarry tile floor surface. It is patterned in three colors: a tan field with a buff and dark-brown border. Westfield Green marble is used for the perimeter border and casement windows with bronze-plated nickel hardware. Ornate grilles conceal radiators under each window Courtroom 1 1 is centrally located in the south corridor and Courtroom 2 is located at the north end of the east corridor of the building's third floor. Two sets of paneled double doors lead from the south corridor to Courtroom 1 through two small vestibules. windows with bronze-plated nickel hardware.

Decorative grilles conceal radiators beneath each windowsill. 4 Ratio Architects Inc., Building Preservation Plan, 5-3. rooms. (8-02) Continuation Sheet Third Floor (Expires 1-31-2009) floor, wall, and ceiling materials of the loggias match those of the lobby and corridors. baseboard. The walls are clad floor-to-ceiling with polished St. Genevieve Golden Vein marble panels. The marble frames. On the north side of the lobby, the wall contains five window openings with double-height steel Courtroom 1and Courtroom2are significant public spaces with many character-defining features. Courtroom The inner doors of the vestibules are covered with padded leather panels affixed with ornamental metal studs. Original metalwork inthe lobby and corridorsincludes radiator grilles, exterior entry doors, elevator doors, and polished aluminum door panels with an etched design.

Original Incandescent chain-suspended hexagonal pendant lanterns with classically inspired details illuminate the lobby and corridor spaces. They are fabricated south wall of the lobby provides access to Courtroom 1 through two sets of paneled metal doors set in fluted NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio A portion of the floor surface within the courtroom consists of alternating dark-brown and ivory marbleized vinyl red carpet. Westfield Green marble forms the baseboard at the perimeter of the room. On the south exterior wall, pilasters flank each window opening. All pilasters have Corinthian capitals composed of hard white plaster with a bronze-colored over-glaze.

These capitals support a continuous frieze fruit baskets, and human heads in profile are used. Interspersed in regular locations across the frieze are abstracted lonic capital and flanked by doves. Six newer, non-decorative metal ventilation grilles are located on the north wall. Grilles are also set in the base molding at intervals along the interior wall and at the raised podium at the judge's bench. Above the frieze is a cornice consisting of egg-and-dart patterns, dentils, and acanthus leaves. The cornice is tinted acoustical plaster. The ceiling of the courtroom is acoustical plaster with red, blue, green and gold highlights on a tan field. The ceiling has a coffered pattern of squares inset with octagons, while the interstices The east wall of the courtroom contains a decorative arched wall panel directly behind the judge's bench.

The cast white bronze with brass-colored highlights and opal glass shades. Other metalwork includes a burnished and polished cast aluminum railing that separates the front and rear portions of the courtroom. 5 Ratio Architects Inc, Building Preservation Plan, 5-5. (8-02) judge's bench. composed of flat rectangular panels of acoustical plaster, divided at intervals by fluted pilasters. The courtroom also retains many original furnishings. In the rear of the room are six rows of solid walnut walnut burl veneer with straight-grained walnut veneer surrounds, interspersed between fluted panels of solid pedimented surrounds, also of Nebo Golden Travis marble. The frieze of these surrounds is of contrasting St. of rectangular panels fabricated from acoustical plaster that has been molded and tinted. Frieze panels are plain with a simple border design consisting of intermittent fluting.

However, in panels located at both corners of the east and west walls and centered over the pilasters, more decorative schemes involving urns, volutes, grilles. Both the low desk in front of the judge's bench and the witness box screen match the style of the NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section 7 Page 9 United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio Courtroom 2 Courtroom 2 is located at the north end of the east wing of the third floor, and is entered on the north wall through a small vestibule. One pair of exterior doors are paneled wood, and the interior doors are clad with flanking a center triple window bay. All of the windows are double-height, original steel casements with operable awnings above and bronze-plated hardware.

The original walnut radiator enclosures are located beneath these windows. The walls are a combination of wood paneling that surrounds fabric-covered infill panels. The wood paneling borders are orange; and the outer borders are blue. Suspended from the ceiling are three original, large light fixtures, spaced evenly apart in a row bisecting the ornamented with the federal seal. This courtroom also retains many of its original furnishings. A low knee-wall divides the front and rear portions Two original white bronze table lamps with glass shades are at either end of the bench. The bench is set upon a low Westfield Green marble base with inset cast-iron grilles. Other original furniture includes the witness box and recorder's desk. (8-02) mounted ceiling fixture in the vestibule.The fixture is intact except for its opal glass diffuser lens.The with a three-color border.

Westfield Green marble forms the baseboard at the perimeter of the room. bands. At either end of the room is a plaster square motif centered between rectangular bands. The inner length of the room. Each light fixture is a white bronze pendant fixture with brass-colored highlights and the courtroom. The original flooring is noted on the original working drawings as a checkerboard of rubber tile baseboard. Non-original vents have been installed in the upper portions of the south wall. The ceiling is made of acoustical plaster and is organized into three bays that coincide with the pilaster courtroom also contains an original aluminum clock on the rear wall. The front wall above the judge's bench is of the courtroom. At the rear are original walnut benches. At the front is the original judge's bench.

The bench consists of book matched, diamond-cut walnut veneer panels separated by simplified fluted pilasters. NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio After the U.S. Post Office vacated in 1968, the central postal workroom on the ground floor was divided up into federal courts and agencies. This work included interior mechanical improvements completed by the Columbus along Long Street and the west parking lot.

Within the last fifty years, renovations have been made to the law clerks offices, which were originally part of Alterations conducted in 2002 were done to technologically improve Courtroom 1 while preserving as much of the historical fabric as possible, and were executed according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and although the original openings were not altered. The original suspended ceiling fixtures of white bronze and lamps of opal glass diffusers were retained.

eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.® The Federal Building and United States Courthouse is particularly distinctive in its retention of elaborate Neo- occurred, the structure retains its aspects of architectural integrity, location, design, setting, materials, going alterations conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43215 ," Letter, November 15, 2002. Preservation Officer, Great Lakes Region, U.S. General Services Administration. Buildings. (8-02) Alterations Integrity (Expires 1-31-2009) 7Toni Alkire,"The Ceremonial Courtroom of Hon.Algenon L.Marbley,"The Federal Lawyer 52, No. 6, July 2005, 24-25. firm of Wright Gilfillen Keske.

Subsequent replacement of the original steel sash windows with bronze-colored comprehensive renovation of the third floor judge's chamber as well as the installation of a security barrier Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.® The notable Courtroom 1 alterations include enlarging the jury existing non-original window glazing. These projects were determined to have no adverse effect the building's Classical revival detailing,materials, and finishes. The structure's exterior and interior character-defining spaces, features, and materials appear to be in good condition. Although some alterations, as noted, have Preservation Office, "Signed MOA - Third Floor Judge's Chamber Alterations, Joseph P. Kinneary U.S. Courthouse, 85 Marconi Letters dated October 8, 2010 and September 2, 2011from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office to the Regional Historic box to accommodate 14 jurors.

The original design was maintained by using original wood from the back of More recently, a two phased rehabilitation project addressing energy and exterior envelope issues was begun in 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2013. The first phase, just completed, consisted of buildings underway, the second phase involves treatment of the building's failing sandstone façade and replacement of United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "X" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing) components lack individual distinction. -A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. Bremoved from its original location. Cabirthplace or a grave. D a cemetery. E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. F a commemorative property. Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) Richards, McCarty and Bulford Wetmore, James A. Acting Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department Please see Section 8 Continuation Sheets.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS) preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested.

previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey recorded by Historic American Engineering Record Primary Location of Additional Data State Historic Preservation Office *1988 Consensus DOE form, Columbus Civic Center Historic District 1934 University ARCHITECTURE Other Federal agency Architect/Builder Significant Dates Cultural Affiliation Period of Significance Name of repository: Other State agency Local government previously listed in the National Register Criteria Considerations(Mark"X"in all the boxes that apply.) B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.

Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is individually eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic revival style. Within the context of U.S. post offices, courthouses and federal buildings, the authorization and design of the U.S.

Post Office and Courthouse in Columbus falls within the Public Works Administration design undertaken during the first decade of the twentieth century. Under the Columbus Plan, the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, later known as the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, and, after 1998, as the Joseph P. executed by the early 1930s. Places by consensus between the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office and the Federal Highway The nomination form prepared by the City of Columbus, Economic Development Division, dated 1986 and stamped "Consensus DOE - 9/14/88," documents the Columbus Civic Center Historic District and includes the century. The eligible district has never been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. History and Development of the U.S.

Post Office and CourthouseColumbus the federal building constructed in 1934,the new civic center included the Central High School constructed in 1924,the Columbus City Hall in 1926, the Central Police Station in 1928, and the Ohio State Office Building, completed in 1933. 9 The Office of John Vinci, Historic Structures Report, 54.

Summary Significance (8-02) Places at the local level of significance under Criterion C.It is a distinctive example of the Neo-Classical NPS Form 10-900-a The building retains high levels of architectural integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, Designed by the local firm of Richards, McCarty and Bulford, the building, located along a riverfront civic center, is directly associated with the local City Beautiful movement called the "Columbus Plan." When Columbus civic leaders sought to revitalize the underutilized Columbus riverfront, they based their planning The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse was previously determined eligible for the National Register of Historic The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, located along the Scioto River, sits on land specifically designated under a city master plan for a government district.

Conceived by architect Frank Packard and promoted by city leaders and Robert Wolfe, publisher of the Columbus Dispatch newspaper, the master plan arose from a 1908 City Beautiful idea locally known as the "Columbus Plan." Officials sought to replace an earlier post office in setting, feeling, and association. The period of significance is 1934, the year of construction completion. doctrine on the City Beautiful movement as well as the locally known "Burnham Plan" of Chicago, also U.S. Post Office and Courthouse as a contributing resource in the district, which the form finds eligible under downtown Columbus designed in the Romanesque/Gothic Revival style and completed in 1887. In addition to Planning for the redevelopment of the riverfront began with the Columbus Plan of 1908, which called for the NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio Officials commenced a major flood control effort replete with new reservoirs and a formal widening of the veterans, ended when voters defeated the bond package to which it was attached. Following the destruction Dispatch publisher Robert Wolfe, unveiled a new cross-river civic center plan in 1923. The new riverfront plan the city committed to the construction of a police station and the state of Ohio located a state office building at the site in 1933, after considering a number of alternative locations. Finally, the federal government relocated of small businesses, gas stations, and parking lots along the bank of the Scioto River.

Construction of the new building began in 1933and a formal dedication took place on October 18, 1934. The overall cost of the building was $1,419,000. formally voted to rename the Columbus Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse after the United States District 1966 until his eventual retirement in 2001.2 of the twentieth century, designed the Federal Building and United States Courthouse under the direction of Clarence E. Richards, J.E. McCarty, and George H. Bulford. Senior member Richards started his career as a Park Service, 1986). " Ratio Architects, Inc., Building Preservation Plan, 1-2.

Cong., 2nd sess., Congressional Record 144 (June 2, 1998): S5580 the Columbus U.s Post Office and Courthouse to the site in 1934.10 (8-02) Architects/Builders 10 City of Columbus (OH),"Columbus Civic Center," National Register of Historic Places Nomination (Washington, DC: National (Expires 1-31-2009) Riverfront. While development of the area moved at a slow pace, flooding of the Scioto River in 1913 provided of the Columbus City Hall by fire in 1921,Columbus architect Frank Packard, along with the help of Columbus attracted the attention of officials at the city, state, and federal levels. While the Central High School located The U.S.Post Office relocated to the building in January 1935, and remained there until 1968. Since 1968, a number of renovations were made to the building.

All alterations conform to the Secretary of the Interior's the Supervising Architect's Office of the Treasury Department. The firm was named after founding members schoolteacher and railroad bridge engineer prior to his move to Ohio. Soon after moving to the state in 1893, 1 Ratio Architects, Inc., Building Preservation Plan, 1-2; Designation of Joseph P. Kinneary United States Courthouse, S.1800, 105th Town Street were constructed along with retaining walls along the east bank of the river. During this construction effort, a push to construct Victory Park, a memorial park dedicated to World War I on the west side of the river was under construction at the time of the plan's unveiling (and completed in 1924), The local Columbus firm of Richards, McCarty and Bulford, the city's leading architectural firm for the first half George Bulford.

By 1899, the three men joined forces to form their successful enterprise. Bulford, a native of England, took an active role in the community. His memberships included positions as a member and Richards worked as a construction superintendent at the firm of Yost and Packard where he likely met NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio member of the Allied Architects Association and was involved with the planning of the new Columbus City Hall The firm completed plans for the Columbus U.S. Post Office and Courthouse by 1932.4 History of Federal Construction become an administrative and commercial center.

Public Buildings Act, 1926 The Public Buildings Act of 1926, also known as the Keyes-Elliot Act, was a general enabling act that allotted result, a survey report was prepared in 1927 that listed towns and cities with no federal buildings, including 799 with postal receipts over $20,000 and 1,512 with postal receipts between $10,000 and $20,000. The estimated conditions, including the stock market crash of 1929.15 Public Works Administration Design million. As a result, 133 architectural firms were commissioned to design federal buildings in 1931, and this KS: Historic Preservation Office, Metropolitan Area Planning Department, 2005).

13 City of Wichita (KS), "Discover Historic Wichital: A listing of Wichita''s Registered Historic Landmarks and Districts" (Wichita, (8-02) chairman of the Civic Center Committee of Columbus and the City Planning Commission.Bulford was a Education Press Building, the Athletic Club of Columbus, and the remodeling of St. Joseph's Cathedral. While buildings in the states of Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Between1852 and 1939, the Treasury Department's Office of the Supervising Architect oversaw the design hard hit by unemployment. On May 31,1930,the U.S. Congress amended the Public Buildings Act of 1926, administration and the U.S. Congress increased funding for the federal building program in 1928, 1930, and 1 The Office of John Vinci, Historic Structures Report, 54. 15 Emily Harris, History of Post Office Construction, 1900-1940 (Washington, DC: U.S. Postal Service, 1982), 13-14.

16 Harris, History of Post Office Construction, 17. 1 Craig, et al., The Federal Presence, 281. numerous public, office, and commercial buildings in Columbus and elsewhere including the American which increased funding and further authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to contract with private firms and NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio number increased to 301 by 1934.18 This practice ended, however, on June 29, 1934, with an order that the projects.

As of February 28,1939, Public Works Administration (PWA) federal building construction projects totaled 3,167 buildings at $303, 581,146,including 30 courthouses and city halls with an allotment of $1,312,012 and 406 post offices with an allotment of $43,607,814.2 In the decade following World War I, new prosperity led to a construction boom that resulted in a nationwide movement as well as a shift from the idealistic and traditional interpretations of Greek and Roman architecture By the early 1930s, this simplified Classical architecture had become the dominant style conveying the federal Roman form asadvocated by Jefferson, the Greek temples of Robert Mills, or the ebullient Beaux Arts style of cubic forms with a marked horizontal or vertical emphasis, smooth surfaces, and a minimum of ornamentation. 1 Beth M.

Boland, National Register of Historic Places Bulletin 13: How to Apply National Register Criteria to Post Offices (Washington, DC: U.S. General Services Administration, 1991), 3. 20 Ibid, 290. (8-02) Treasury Department's Office of the Supervising Architect design all remaining federal buildings.19 The Public the early 1900s, that most Americans think of when they think of federal architecture.? the Supervising Architect, as its first president.The AFA held dinners with prominent modernist speakers such buildings continued to be built throughout the 1930s, a general acceptance of building designs inspired by the funding for construction programs introduced Moderne design throughout the region. While civic buildings wave of new civic construction.

During this period, the classical idiom became more streamlined as ornament during the 1930s fit well with the principles of modern architecture being then introduced, stressing functionality, open plans with interchangeable work areas, and exterior surfaces in uninterrupted simple planes and volumes. However, the Supervising Architect's Office did not adopt the modernist vocabulary on the Federal Architects (AFA) was organized late in 1927 with Louis A. Simon, then Chief Architect of the Office of design elements and embraced artistic expression that complemented the modern machine age and featured NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.

1024-0018 (Expires 1-31-2009) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places United States Post Office and Courthouse Franklin County, Ohio reflected changing tastes in design, the vocabulary of classical architecture persisted and the Moderne government buildings of the 1930s clearly reflect classical Greek and Roman massing and motifs. It is in this period of transition in the architectural nature of federal architecture that the U.S. Post Office and Wetmore's long career as Acting Supervising Architect and constructed at the beginning of Louis A. Simon's tenure. Simon had joined the Office of the Treasury Department in 1896, serving as Chief Architect of the Architectural Division from 1905 to 1933, and assuming the position of Supervising Architect of the Treasury on the Public Buildings Act of 1926.

Currently, there are no postal-related activities in the building. However, the court facilities are still in use and Finding of Significance The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is individually eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under Criterion C as a distinctive example of the Neo-Classical revival style and an excellent example of the craftsmanship and detailing. Designed by the local firm of Richards, McCarty and Bulford, the building, located along a riverfront civic center, it is directly associated with the local federal buildings, the authorization and design of the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Columbus fall within the Public Works Administration design era. The building retains high levels of architectural integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, setting, feeling, and association.

Thus, on an individual level, the significance is 1934, the year of construction completion. Continuation Sheet (8-02) functions asa federal courthouse. Courthouse in Columbus was designed and constructed.The building is an excellent example of the mid Eligibility under Criterion C 1930s transition from strict classicism to a more stylized Modernist aesthetic. The building was built in 1934 building appears to be one of the last federal projects undertaken by a private architectural design firm under City Beautiful movement called the "Columbus Plan." Within the context of U.S. post offices, courthouses and architectural firm for the first half of the twentieth century, led the building's design and construction. The interior spaces also retain their integrity, if not their purpose.

Therefore, although the building is no longer in Wetmore's retirement.The local Columbus firm of Richards,McCarty and Bulford,the city's leading