Kalamazoo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United States Post Office
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 410 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, Michigan |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Louis Simon, Leroy and Newlander, George D. Mason and Co. |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| Part of | Bronson Park Historic District (ID83000855) |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001930 |
| Added to NRHP | December 26, 2017 |
The Kalamazoo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is an important government building in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It used to be a post office, which is where people send and receive mail. Today, it houses different federal offices and courts. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, meaning it's a special building with a lot of history!
Building History: From Post Office to Courthouse
Construction on Kalamazoo's downtown post office started in the 1930s. This was part of a big government plan called the New Deal. The New Deal helped the country recover from the Great Depression by creating jobs and building projects.
The building was designed by several architects working together. These included Louis A. Simon, who was the main architect for the U.S. Treasury. Local Kalamazoo architects Rockwell Leroy and Manuel M. Newlander also helped. The Detroit firm of George D. Mason and Company was involved too.
The building was finished in 1939. It served as the main post office for Kalamazoo until 1959. After that, the main post office moved to a new location.
Between 1962 and 1963, the building was updated. It was changed to hold courtrooms and other federal offices. As of 2019, it still houses many federal offices. These include the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. It also holds offices for Probation, Pre-trial Services, and the Marshals Service.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Kalamazoo Federal Building is designed in a style called Art Moderne. This style was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It uses smooth surfaces and rounded shapes.
The building is made of strong, reinforced concrete. Its main outer walls are covered with a type of stone called Kasota limestone. This gives it a clean, modern look.
The front of the building, facing Michigan Avenue, has two main entrances. These are at each end of the building. They feature cool metal designs that are typical of the Art Deco style.
Between the entrances, you'll see tall windows. These windows are separated by decorative columns called fluted piers. These piers make the building look tall and vertical. However, the overall design also has strong horizontal lines, making it look wide and grand.
