Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska)

Coordinates: 64°50′35″N 147°43′17″W / 64.84306°N 147.72139°W / 64.84306; -147.72139
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Federal Building
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
The Federal Building, not long after its construction in 1933
Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska) is located in Downtown Fairbanks
Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska) is located in Alaska
Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska)
LocationCushman Street and 3rd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska
Coordinates64°50′35″N 147°43′17″W / 64.84306°N 147.72139°W / 64.84306; -147.72139
Area0.6 acres (0.24 ha)
Built1933 (1933)
Built byUS Department of the Treasury
ArchitectGeorge N. Ray
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP reference No.78003422[1]
AHRS No.FAI-155
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 2, 1978
Designated AHRSFebruary 2, 1978

The Old Federal Building is a historic government building at Cushman Street and 3rd Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. When it was built in 1933, it was the most northern instance of concrete construction in the United States. It is a large building with three full-height floors and two smaller penthouse levels. The building's Art Deco styling includes V-shaped grooves set in pilasters that separate columns of windows and aluminum panels. The grooves are repeated in concrete spandrels above the top row of windows. Interior decoration includes terrazzo flooring, copious use of marble in walls and floors, and a pressed copper ceiling in the courtroom. The building was designed by Washington, DC architect George N. Ray, and built by William "Mac" MacDonald, who also later built the Federal Building in Nome. It originally housed the federal court, post office, and other federal government offices, and the decision to locate it in Fairbanks was critical to the rise of the city's importance;[2] it now houses private offices.[3]

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "NRHP nomination for Federal Building". National Park Service. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Federal government gets credit for keeping Fairbanks thriving". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. June 23, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2015.