US Court House and Post Office
Also known as: U.S. Courthouse; United States Post Office and Courthouse
Why it's listed
Rising seventeen stories on the northern edge of the Los Angeles Civic Center, this federal courthouse and post office was completed in 1940 and remains in use as a courthouse and government offices. Its stepped massing combines Beaux Arts symmetry with Moderne forms. The steel-frame and concrete structure is clad in pale pink ceramic veneer above a base of dark Minnesota granite, with fluted piers, terra cotta eagles and aluminum grilles. Inside, the main lobbies have polychrome terrazzo floors, varied marble walls, painted plaster ceilings and aluminum light fixtures. The nomination presents it as one of the finest examples of PWA Moderne federal architecture in the country and as the largest federal building in the West at its completion. It also marked the federal government's presence across from City Hall. Alterations in the 1960s removed the post office, and security upgrades followed in 1993, but the exterior and principal public spaces remain largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion C as one of the best examples of a major PWA Moderne federal building in the United States, embodying a type and period and the work of a master. It was also the largest federal building in the West when completed in 1940, and it forms part of the historic architectural core of the Civic Center.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000001, listed February 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 312 N. Spring St., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | February 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000001 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937-41 |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Art Moderne; Other: PWA Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 16, 2012 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a federal courthouse and offices; the post office facilities were removed in the 1960s and the exterior and main public interior spaces retain high integrity. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.05508, -118.24160 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000001.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7889667
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.