Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse facts for kids
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US Post Office and Courthouse
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US Post Office and Courthouse
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 Granby St., Norfolk, Virginia |
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| Area | 1.9 acres (0.77 ha) |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Randolf, Cooke,& Van Leeuwen; Mitchell, Benjamin F. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000098 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 10, 1984 |
The Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse is an important building in Norfolk, Virginia. It used to be called the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse. This building serves as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
It was built in 1932 and is known for its cool Art Deco style. In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place worth protecting. For many years, it worked as both a post office and a courthouse.
Contents
Why This Building Is Special
A Grand Design in Tough Times
This courthouse is in downtown Norfolk. It was built between 1932 and 1934. Local architects Benjamin F. Mitchell and the firm of Rudolph, Cooke, and VanLeeuwen designed it. Even though it was built during the Great Depression, the building looks very fancy.
People at the time thought it was "magnificent." The inside has amazing Art Deco designs. You can see high-quality craftsmanship everywhere.
Norfolk's Need for Space
In the early 1900s, Norfolk grew very fast. This was partly because of the Naval Base. The city needed a bigger courthouse and post office. The old one, built in 1898, was too small. Mail was getting very crowded.
In 1915, Norfolk's Mayor Wyndham R. Mayo led a group. They asked Congress for money to build a new federal building. This request was sent many times in the 1920s. The city really needed more space.
Finding Funds and a Location
Finally, in 1929, Congress set aside $1.15 million. This was for the new federal building in Norfolk. Menalcus Lankford, a Congressman from Norfolk, helped get even more money. They secured $2.05 million for the project.
A spot for the building was chosen in 1931. It was a large area between several streets. Part of the land used to have a church.
Meet the Architects
In 1931, the Virginian-Pilot newspaper announced the design team. It was led by Benjamin F. Mitchell and the firm of Rudolph, Cooke and VanLeeuwen. Mitchell had designed many buildings in Norfolk. He worked on the City Market and Booker T. Washington High School.
An important person on the team was Mary Brown Channel. She joined after finishing college in 1933. In 1935, she became the first woman to be a licensed architect in Virginia.
Building the Courthouse
Construction started in 1932. The Virginia Engineering Company won the first contract. They built the foundation for $210,000. The foundation was finished in just 120 days.
Later, the Treasury Department decided to make the building four stories tall instead of five. The main construction contract went to Consolidated Engineering Company. The total cost of the building was about $2.71 million. This included buying the land and building the foundation.
John Rapelye was the consulting engineer. The cornerstone was laid in September 1933. Important guests like Postmaster General James A. Farley attended. The building was finished in October 1934. The Post Office moved in first, then the courthouses.
The Post Office stayed there for 50 years. In 1984, it moved to a different building. The courthouse was then updated for more courtrooms. It was renamed the Walter E. Hoffman U.S. Courthouse. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places that same year.
Art Deco Style and Materials
This building is a great example of Art Deco style. It shows a trend in federal building design from the 1930s. These buildings were big and strong. They showed the power of the government.
The building looks "conservative modernistic" and "stable." It has clean lines and simple shapes. It uses materials like light gray limestone and dark granite. The windows have aluminum frames.
Inside, you'll see shiny materials like granite, marble, and aluminum. The designs are simple and geometric. A local artist named Wyatt Hibbs created the aluminum designs. The building's beautiful materials make it stand out. It was built very quickly, in just over two years. Today, it is in excellent condition.
The Walter E. Hoffman Courthouse is a key part of Norfolk's history and look. It helps make the streetscape special.
What the Building Looks Like
Shape and Size
The Walter E. Hoffman U.S. District Courthouse has a unique shape. It's like a trapezoid and covers two city blocks. The building is four stories tall, plus a basement.
The front (west side) faces Granby Street and is 311 feet wide. The north side is 218 feet wide. The south side is 140 feet wide, and the east side is the longest at 321 feet wide.
Art Deco Features
The building shows many features of the Art Deco style. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It has smooth, elegant, and straight designs. It uses polished materials. It also mixes in simple classical elements.
The building has a "stepped-back" shape. This means the upper floors are set back from the lower ones. The outside walls have decorative tops. The design helps show where the post office and courthouse parts were.
Outside Details
All the outside walls are covered in light gray limestone. Below that is a base of shiny black granite. The windows are usually paired. They have aluminum frames. In the basement, there are metal windows for light and air.
The main entrance is on the west side. There are also three other entrances. These entrances have simple aluminum-framed glass doors. They have brass handles with cool Art Deco designs.
On the north side, there were once loading docks for the post office. These were removed in 1985. Now, that area matches the rest of the building. A new ramp was added for easy access.
Inside the Building
The building used to have skylights inside. These let natural light into the post office workroom. They have since been removed.
Since 1983, the building has only been a courthouse. Many of the old courtrooms are still there. New courtrooms have been added. They have nice wooden walls and carved details. Many other rooms have been updated. Original wood details were cleaned and put back. Some hallways now have modern ceilings and lights.
The first and third floors are the fanciest. They have lots of marble, terrazzo, and aluminum designs. The main lobby on the first floor has marble walls. The marble floor has a cool pattern. Some original marble and aluminum tables are still there.
The main courtroom on the third floor is also very grand. It has cream-colored marble walls. The courtroom itself has marble and stone walls. The old post office areas are now judicial offices and courtrooms. The basement holds machinery and storage. The building has been made easier to use for everyone.
Outside Areas
The building is in a city area. You can get to it from Granby Street. There is parking on the Bute Street and Brambleton Avenue sides. The building still has its original pink granite curbs and steps. There are some plants along the building.
