Federal Building (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Federal Building
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Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, August 2003
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 515-519 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Edbrooke, W.J. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000082 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1973 |
The U.S. Courthouse & Federal Office Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a very important building. It has been a post office, a federal office building, and a courthouse. Today, it mainly serves as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This means it's where important legal cases for the eastern part of Wisconsin are handled.
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History of the Milwaukee Federal Building
The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Milwaukee was built between 1892 and 1899. At that time, mail delivery was changing a lot. New services like registered mail and free home delivery were becoming popular. The old post office from 1859 was too small for all these new services.
So, in 1889, Congress decided to fund a new, bigger building. This new building was special because it brought many government groups together. It housed the U.S. Postal Service, the Courts, and the Customs Service. Today, only the District Courts still use the building from its original purpose.
This huge granite building is a famous landmark in Milwaukee. It's located in a historic area called Juneautown. This area was named after Solomon Juneau, who was Milwaukee's founder and first mayor. The Federal Building is surrounded by other old and important buildings. These include the Milwaukee Club (built in 1883) and The Pfister Hotel (built in 1893).
Building's Unique Design
The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse has a strong and impressive design called Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. This style was a big change from the classical designs that most government buildings had in the 1800s.
The building was designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke. He was the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury Department. This style was made popular by a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. His Romanesque Revival style started to become popular in the Midwest in the 1880s.
In 1972, the building was named a Milwaukee City Landmark. A year later, in 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places across the United States.
Changes and Updates Over Time
From 1929 to 1932, a large addition was built onto the south side of the building. Eight years later, this addition was made even taller, reaching seven stories.
Later, from 1989 to 1996, the government did a huge renovation project. They carefully restored the inside of the building to look like it did originally. At the same time, they updated it to meet modern office needs.
Architecture and Design Features
Milwaukee's Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a five-story building. It looks strong and beautiful, with many detailed features. It takes up a whole city block! The main front of the building faces Wisconsin Avenue.
This building is a great example of Romanesque Revival architecture. You can see its strong stone walls and heavy Roman arches. The walls are made of dark and light gray Mount Waldo granite. The roof is steeply pitched and has many gabled sections. A tall tower rises from the center of the front of the building. It has a belfry (a place for bells) and a tall, pointed roof.
The front of the building has parts that stick out and parts that are set back. This creates an interesting look. The main entrance on the first floor has an arched design. The windows on the second and third floors also have Roman arches above them. Even though the stone forms are massive, they have fine decorations. The first floor has the most Romanesque decorations. You can see detailed carvings and decorative stonework around the main entrance.
The corners of the building are rounded. They have tall, pointed towers with smooth and textured stone bands. These towers are topped with cone-shaped roofs. The walls on the upper floors are smooth. They have thin, textured lines that go around the building. The gabled dormers (windows that stick out from the roof) have Romanesque leaf designs, gargoyles, and finials (decorative tops).
Inside the Federal Building
The inside of the building, from the first to the fifth floors, is built around a huge central atrium. This atrium has a glass roof that lets in light. It used to be an open space to let light into the building. Now, it's used for many public events.
Inside the atrium, you can see columns, marble walls, and oak molding. The ceilings have stenciled designs and plaster moldings. All these details have been restored to their original colors and finishes. The first floor's original ceiling was removed to open up the space to the light well above. However, the steel beams were kept to remind people of how the room looked when it was a postal workspace.
The hallways, stair halls, and lobbies are decorated with colorful marble mosaics. They also have oak paneling and decorative plaster ceilings. The parts of the building added in 1929-32 match the original design. This makes the whole inside look harmonious.
The historic U.S. District Courtroom is on the third floor. It's a two-story room with rich details. The walls and ceiling are covered in carved oak paneling and trim. The original paint colors have been carefully preserved. Fine Romanesque details decorate the arches above the doors, windows, and the judge's bench. In the center, between the two doorways, is the room's original ladies' balcony, which is also made entirely of oak.
Restoration Efforts
A huge seven-year restoration project began in 1989. This project brought the building back to its original condition. Workers did a lot of research to find the original paint colors and decorative patterns for the walls and ceilings. This included hand-painted and stenciled designs that created a trompe-l'œil effect. This is an artistic trick that makes flat designs look like they are real and three-dimensional.
The inside finishes and fixtures were restored. The outside stone and brickwork were also cleaned and repaired. The renovations also made the work spaces more comfortable. They added energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Thanks to many people working together, this building remains one of the most impressive examples of architecture in Milwaukee.
Important Dates for the Building
- 1892-1899: The U.S. Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House is built.
- 1929-1932: A large addition is built on the south side of the building.
- 1940: Two more floors are added to the south addition.
- 1972: The building is named a Milwaukee City Landmark.
- 1973: The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1989-1996: The building goes through a big restoration and renovation.
- 2017-2019: The building's historic granite front, stone trim, gutters, and the balcony above the north entrance are restored.
Quick Facts About the Building
- Architect: Willoughby J. Edbrooke
- Built: 1892-1899; additions in 1932 and 1940
- Special Status: Milwaukee City Landmark; listed in the National Register of Historic Places
- Location: 517 East Wisconsin Avenue
- Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
- Main Materials: Pale gray Mount Waldo granite
- Key Features: A tall tower; a central atrium; Romanesque decorations; an oak-paneled courtroom
