Nix Federal Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United States Court House and Post Office Building
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Chestnut Street facade (2013)
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 900 Market Street, at S. 9th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) |
| Built | 1937–41 |
| Architect | Harry Sternfield |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001540 |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 1990 |
The Robert N. C. Nix Sr. Federal Building and United States Post Office is a historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built between 1937 and 1941. The building was designed by Harry Sternfeld in the Moderne style. You can see several sculptures and art pieces by Donald De Lue and Edmond Amateis on it.
In December 1985, the building was renamed. It honors Robert N.C. Nix Sr.. He was a long-serving Democratic Congressman from Philadelphia. He was also the first African-American to represent Pennsylvania in Congress.
This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It is part of the Mark East neighborhood.
Building Design and Features
This building is located in Center City Philadelphia. It sits on a large piece of land. The land is about 2 acres in size. It is bordered by Market Street, Ninth Street, and Chestnut Street.
The building has seven stories. It stands about 115 feet tall. It also has a basement and two top floor sections called penthouses. The building is very long. It measures 170 feet along Chestnut and Market Streets. It is 470 feet along Ninth Street.
Inside, there is a special open space. It is called a light court. This court helps bring fresh air and sunlight into the building. It reaches from the third to the sixth floor.
The outside of the building looks very grand. The bottom part is made of Milford pink granite. Most of the walls facing the street are covered with Indiana limestone. The inside walls of the light court are made of buff-colored brick.
When the building was first built, it had central air-conditioning. Later, many window air conditioners were added. These were removed during a restoration project in 1989. Today, the outside of the building looks just like it did when it was first designed. There is also special access for people with disabilities at the eastern entrance.
The first floor of the building has a post office. The second floor holds courtrooms and a law library. The floors above that have offices and meeting rooms.
The National Archives at Philadelphia is also located here. You can enter it from Chestnut Street. This part of the building keeps important historical records. These records are from federal agencies and courts. They cover Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. These records date back to 1789 and are open for the public to see.
Gallery
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Mail Delivery – West, a relief by Edmond Amateis, by the Ninth Street entrance nearest Market St.
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Justice, relief by Donald de Lue east of the Market Street entrance
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Law, also by de Lue, west of the Market Street entrance
