Old Federal Building (Fairbanks, Alaska) Explained

Federal Building
Location:Cushman Street and 3rd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska
Coordinates:64.8431°N -147.7214°W
Architect:George N. Ray
Builder:US Department of the Treasury
Architecture:Art Deco
Added:August 2, 1978
Refnum:78003422
Designated Other1:Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Designated Other1 Name:Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Designated Other1 Date:February 2, 1978
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. A8EDEF
Designated Other1 Abbr:AHRS
Designated Other1 Number:FAI-155
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom

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;[1] it now houses private offices.[2]

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=78003422}} NRHP nomination for Federal Building]. National Park Service. 2015-02-16.
  2. News: Federal government gets credit for keeping Fairbanks thriving . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . June 23, 2013 . 2015-02-16.