Akron Post Office and Federal Building

The old Akron Post Office and Federal Building is today privately owned and used as medical offices for Summa Health Systems. It was originally purchased in 1913 with federal funds to be a post office. However, it was built and opened until 1929 thanks to delays caused by World War I. It remained a Post Office until 1975. It was also a commercial display studio for several years before being turned into medical offices in the early 2000s.

The building itself was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was designed by James Wetmore in Roman Neo-Classical Revival style. It features a granite terrace and Tuscan columnns on pedestals among other architectural details.

Neglect eventually caught up with the building and Sandvick Architects were brought in to preserve and update the building. They redid the 67,000 square foot interior to house the medical offices in 2007. Improvements included restoration of the front lobby and existing storefronts as well as refurbishing the large lanterns at the terrace.

 

Waymarking.com, accessed Dec. 6, 2016. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7VVM_Akron_Post_Office_and_Federal_Building_Akron_Ohio

Sandvick Architects website, accessed Dec. 6, 2016. http://www.sandvickarchitects.com/akron-post-office.html