Charles E. Chamberlain Federal Building & Post Office facts for kids

Federal Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	315 W. Allegan St., Lansing, Michigan
Area	3 acres (1.2 ha)
Built	1932
Architect	Bowd-Munson Co.
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Art Deco
MPS	Downtown Lansing MRA
NRHP reference No.	80001865
Added to NRHP	September 17, 1980

The Charles E. Chamberlain Federal Building & Post Office is an important government building in Lansing, Michigan. It's where different parts of the United States government do their work. This building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list helps protect important historical places across the country.

Why a New Federal Building Was Built

Lansing had an older federal building built in 1895. Even though it was made bigger in 1913, by the 1930s, it wasn't large enough. The local post office and other federal offices needed more space.

So, in 1932, the government decided to build a brand new, larger building. They hired an architectural company called Bowd-Munson Company to design it. Construction started in 1932 and was finished just two years later, in 1934. Later, in 1960, another part was added to the back of the building.

How the Building Got Its Name

In 1976, the building became part of the General Services Administration. This is a government agency that manages federal buildings.

A few years later, in 1987, the United States Congress decided to name the building after Charles E. Chamberlain. He was a special person who represented Michigan in Congress from 1957 to 1974. Naming the building after him was a way to honor his service.

Today, many important government offices are located here. These include different types of U.S. Courts, like the District Court and Court of Appeals. The Federal Highway Administration, which helps with roads, also has offices in the building.

What the Building Looks Like

The Charles E. Chamberlain Federal Building & Post Office is a two-story building. It's made of a yellowish-brown stone called ochre limestone. Its design mixes two cool styles: Classical Revival and Art Deco. Classical Revival means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings, while Art Deco adds fancy, modern details.

The front of the building is very balanced and has a wide center part with two entrance sections on the sides. The middle section has tall windows that go up two stories. The entrances have special doorways with a cool eagle design above them. A decorative border runs along the top of the building. The part added in 1960 is simpler but uses the same types of stone.

Inside, the main lobby and entrance areas have walls made of shiny, grayish marble with gold flecks. The ceilings have long, sunken panels with special lights. The staircases have cool metal railings with designs.