Nomination for US Post Office Garage

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-306; (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVEO MAY | 2 1986 6-26-86 DATE ENTERED FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 5 NAME HISTORIC United States Post Office Garage AND/OR COMMON Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Boston MA LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 135 "A" Street CITY, TOWN South Boston STATE 0220 Massachusetts 02205 CLASSIFICATION NLA VICINITY OF CODE 0007 N/ANOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Ninth Congressional District COUNTY CODE Suffolk 005 07-5 CATEGORY _DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) -STRUCTURE SITE OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE _YES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED XNO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE LENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC -INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY _OTHER: AGENCY REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (If applicable) New England Field Real Estate and Buildings Office STREET & NUMBER 1050 Waltham Street CITY.

TOWN Lexington N/A VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02173 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Suffolk County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN Suffolk County Courthouse, Fifth Floor, Government Center Boston REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts 02135 TITLE None DATE _FEDERAL STATECOUNTYLOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN STATE DESCRIPTION SOPITIOMAN XEXCELLENT DETERIORATED _GOOD _RUINS FAIR _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE -MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

_PHYSICAL APPEARANCE_ This two-story building is trapezoidal in plan, almost totally occupying the site. The exterior walls are poured concrete on a pile foundation, scored to suggest panelization, and have streamlined curved corners. It has a steel roof frame and gypsum and concrete roof decks. A base is suggested by slightly projecting the concrete foundation around the building. Some minor deterioration and discoloration is visible, but considering the wear and tear the building must endure, it is in very good condition. Previously stark concrete in color, the building was painted bright yellow in 1983, which can withstand abuse better than a paler color. The functional nature of the building is expressed on the exterior by window placement and the building is divided into two areas: maintenance and operations.

The maintenance area for the storage and repair of vehicles is distinguished by large expanses of steel sash, wire glass windows with operable awning sections and metal louvers. The operations area for the running of the building, dispatch, and inventory control is juxtaposed by utilizing smaller areas of windows. Where the plan places the operations and smaller maintenance areas along the exterior wall, a playful composition of windows is established. A small mezzaine level in the rear adds another dialog by its need of light at an in-between level. Three features of the garage's program add another layer of intrigue to the total composition of the building. First, the vehicle entry (located at the southeast corner on "A" Street) is defined by sweeping curves indicating the flow of traffic in and out.

Gilded aluminum letters above on a thin awning are the only embellishment to the exterior. Within the curved walls are small security windows for the dispatcher and general foreman. Secondly, looking into the entry, is the two-car ramp along the south wall to the second floor maintenance areas. The final element is the vehicle Exp. 10-31-84 (3-62) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Vehicle Maintenance Facilityltem number 7 For NPS use only recelved date entered Page 2 elevator, assessible from both floors and "A" Street. Its tall penthouse is used as a organizing element to tie together the building's different flat roof and parapet heights. The building's play with copings and layering to break down its large scale contributes to its appeal.

The vehicle entrance leads to two large truck storage areas with the maintenance rooms along the east end. Proceeding up the asphalt block ramp, one arrives at two additional truck storage areas wrapped by specialty repair rooms. Large metal framed skylights are on the roof (some are now permanently sealed). Above the entrance are the operations offices, including the Fleet Manager's office in the southeast corner. Most of the interior walls are of either brick or poured concrete; additions are of concrete block or plasterboard. The floors and ceilings are primarily exposed concrete; offices now have acoustical tile ceilings and tile floors.

_ALTERATIONS_ In addition to the exterior painting, the covering of some skylights, and the installation of insulated tiles in some window panels, two exterior doors, one set of fire stairs, and several interior doors have been added to the building,, and a large centéred column and island at the vehicle entry has been removed around 1960.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 -1700-1799 -1800-1899 X1900- _ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE LEDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION _RELIGION -SCIENCE SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES 1940-1941 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Gilbert Stnaley Underwood, Con. Architect STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Grande å Volpe, Inc. - Contractor The Post Office Vehicle Maintenance Facility is located in an industrial district of South Boston on "A" Street between West First Street and Sobin Park. Manufacturing and warehouse structures, many constructed before 1900 and built of brick, predominate in this area. This building is an important landmark within its urban context by virtue of its striking design and bright yellow coloration. Although less than fifty (50) years old, this building is eligible to the National Register of Historic Places as a rare Boston-area example of the International style. It is reminiscent of Pre-World War Il structure in Western Europe, the birth place of this style - The International style emerged during the 1920's and 1930's in Germany, Holland, France, etc.

Its rallying cry was "ornament is crime." Proponents of this style viewed buildings as space enclosing envelopes. This view fits in well with the functional needs of man organizations-such as the U.S. Post Office-for interchangeable work areas. The Vehicle Maintenance Facility's scored concrete exterior simulating individual panels, and the large glass and steel sash areas are consistent with the style's design tenets based on factory fabricated components. Its emphasis on function- alism, stark simplicity, open planning and usage of mundance components (i.e. the elevator and ramp) as visible design elements are the hallmarks of the Federal Government's move away from classical tradition to one heralding the modern machine age.

Indeed, the International style presented a challenge to Ecole der Beaux Arts trained architects steeped in the Classical stylewhich had been revived during the 1890's and 1900's. This building represents the work of West Coast modernist Gilbert Stanley Underwood (no citation in Withey's Dictionary of AmericanArchitects). He served as consulting architect on federal government building projects during the 1930's-1950's. He was responsible for the Federal Building in Los Angeles (1941), U.S. Court House, Seattle Washington (1941) and the P.H.A. residence for Women, Washington, D.C. (1942). He is perhaps best known for his stylish, streamlined, terra cotta covered San Francisco Mint Building (1937). Underwood was the Architect of several articles including "Illustrating the Perfection of Terra Cotta Ceramic Veneer" (American Architect and Engineer, April 1941).

Photographs date this structure's reinforced steel footings to December 1940. The second floor ground slab reads "March 31, 1941." The building was completed at the end f 1941. Innovative features of this structure included a traveling crane and monorail system (now exists only in parts of the second floor). It was capable of producing

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES History of Post Office Construction 1900-1940, July 1982 Bibliography - United States Post Office Garage Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Boston, MA Encyclopedia of Modern Architecture, Gerd Hatje, 1964 The Federal Presence-Lois Craig - p.

282 Avery Architectural Index listings - Gilbert Stanley Underwood-"Illustrating the Per- fection of Terra Cotta Ceramic Veneer" - Architect and Engineers V.145 - 1941 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 2.504 UTM REFERENCES AL1,9|B131018/210 14,6/8,917310 ZONE EASTING NORTHING BLJLL LEASTIN NORTHIN -uLLLJLIliLu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION North to South - 365.15' along "A" Street West to East - 272.46' along West First Street South to North - 349.84' along rear lot line East to West - 347.75' along Sobin Park LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Steven M. Smith, Project Manager ORGANIZATION SULLIVAN DESIGN GROUP, INC.

STREET & NUMBER 44 Adams Street CITY OR TOWN DATE September 24, 1985 TELEPHONE (617) 848-1545 STATE Massachusetts 02184 Braintree 12 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES. NO.X NONE Valeue A demape STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE In compliance with Executive Order 11593, I hereby nominate this property to the National Register, certifying that the State Historic Preservation Officer has been allowed 90 days in which to presentthe nomination to the State Review Board and to evaluate its significance.

The evaluated level of sig nificapa FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE TITLE Realty Specialist Senior FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTYAS INCLUDED / CHPNATIONAL REGISTER DIRECTOR OFFICEOF ARCHEDEOGY ANO HISTORIC PRESERVATORA ATTEST: DATE May 8, 1986 DATE 6/26/83 DATE KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 899-214 W-oz) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved date entered Continuation sheet VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITYltem numbe 8 Page 2 entire cars right through the 1940's. Today, the garage is still self sufficient though it now purchases its vehicles. A granite plaque on the "A" Street elevation reads "Frank C. Walker, Postmaster General; John M. Carmoody, Federal Works Adminis- trator; W.

Signlehert Reynolds, Commissioner of Public Buildings; Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; Neal A. Melnick, Supervising Engineer; Gilbert Stanley Underwood, Consulting Architect, 1940." Brick 5 Stories Industrial Building 1 Story Wood Addition Parking Sobin Park Concrete Structure/Brick Infill Older Industrial Building Older Industrial Building 7 Stories Midway Street Parking 2 Stories Brick 347.75' Parking 3 365.151 "A" Street 349.840 Newer Industrial Building Story Brick 3 4 272.46' West First Street Old Railroad Office One story commercial Parking 1. Vehicular Entrance 2. Dispatcher 3. Truck Storage Area 4. Ramp Up 5.

Boiler Room N Post Office Vehicle Maintenance Facility ° South Boston, Massachusetts ONGFELI BR harles River Basin BENCON ay TREMONT Eli -Cem Cop ESque NEWTON ankh Fare Ra gHong Hayejoun Ghave Halroo Mt howdan IFI RES 00 Cityl Por 28 Bostón Common Chanic Point aune Commonwealth Pier Fish Pier NNER -A HARBO hDry Dock Reserved Channel nidependente City iPoint CONRAIL ESTER MoHighe HNTERCHANCE Uphams Corner SUDAN sate Sch UMBIARD C Xower Columbus Park Circle Harbor Tidal Flat Malibu y Beachi L93 BM ORádio Tower Hirh Sch lever Sch Saun Hill Cove Fox Pt Commerclal Nud Pumping - Sta DORCHES: BAY Thimbi Island Halftide Rocki* Ces tham 50 yrs 86001378 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Substantive Soriow U. S.

Post Office Garage Suffolk County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Asample J request see attached sheet Lappeal MAY | 2 1986 Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 23/7 Date Due:6/13/86 - 126/86 Action: +ACCEPT - 6-26-86 -RETURN _REJECT- Federal Agency: - US PS -NR decision Accept C Reviewer Discipline. _ see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7.

Description Condition - excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one -unaltered Jaltered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other VaIveR BV. 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name_ UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state _local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13. Other Maps - Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed Date Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Review Comments USPO Garage, Boston The Boston USPO Garage, constructed in 1940-41 is exceptionally significant architecturally at the local level as a rare surviving example of the streamlined International Style. According to the SHPO, between the years 1934-54 no major public buildings were constructed in Boston. The garage is the only Boston public building executed in the streamlined International Style. It is relatively intact and in a good state of preservation.

It's distinguishing design features characteristic of the style are: steel reinforceed poured concrete construction, steel sash, wire glass industrial windows with operable awning sections and metal louvers, sculptural massing, sweeping curvilinear corners, and the lack of decorative detailing with the exception of the hallmark gilded a luminum lettering at the entrance. The building's emphasis on functionalism, stark simplicity, open planning, factory fabricated components, lack of decorative ornamentation, and the use of utilitarian/mechanical components such as the elevator and the circulation ramp as elements consciously integrated into the building's design are indicative of the US Postal Service's move away from the classical and revival styles toward a modernist aesthetic.

The SHPO made a recommendation of "no" in section #12 in to the State Review Board's response failure to recommend nomination of this building, although the State staff strongly recommends that the building is very significant and meets the National Register criteria for listing as a fine representative of the International Style at the local level. 11 DEAD Boston Vehicle Maintenance Facility VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY Boston, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc. July 1983 Front elevation. Right view VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY Boston, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc. July 1983 Front elevation. Left view Boston Vehicle Maintenance Facility Boston Vehicle Maintenance Facility VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACI Boston, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, I July 1983 Rear view ITEO FIELD REAL ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OFFICE P.O.

Box 324 Laxington, MA 02173-0324 August 19,1985 The Honorable Raymond Flynn Mayor, City of Boston Boston City Hall One City Hall Plaza Boston, MA 02201 Dear Mayor Flynn: The U.S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer in Boston has evaluated the Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Boston and has determined it is significant fran an historical viewpoint. In view of the above evaluation, the U.S. Postal Service intends to nominate this building to the National Register of Historic Places. We would, prior to our taking formal action, appreciate receiving your concurrence. If you concur with our proposed action, kindly return a signed copy of this letter in the enclosed envelope.

Sincerely, Gregory Gilleland General Manager Concur: Enclosures JPC/1jr WATES POSTA UNITED SERVICE ** UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20260 May 8, 1986 Ms. Carol D. Shull Chief of Registration National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of Interior Washington, D.C. 20240-1002 Dear Ms. Shull: The Postal Service hereby submits a nomination for the post office located at 135 "A" Street, Suffolk County, Boston, Massachusetts. If you have questions concerning this nomination, please call me at 202/268-3107. Sincerely sau ealty specialist, senior Office of Real Estate Enclosure EG TVE MAY | 2 1986