Rachlin Partners

Owner:

United States Postal Service

Architect:

Rachlin Partners

Scope Of Work

The Santa Monica Main Post Office was built in 1937 as part of President Roosevelt’s Works Project Administration Program.  Time, wear and neglect have contributed over the years to the deterioration of this historic structure, creating a need for renovation and repair. Our firm was retained by the United States Postal Service to renovate portions of this facility while keeping its historic significance intact. 

Initial efforts focused on improving the appearance of the main customer lobby, the customer service and claims office, and the passport offices. Interior partition walls and suspended ceilings were removed to restore large volumes of open space. Accumulated grime was removed from existing wood paneling. Custom-made wood windows derived from the original drawings and specifications were fabricated to achieve the initial historic intent, and security concerns were addressed with security glass and a non-operable construction. In addition, we worked with our lighting consultant to rebuild and refinish original light fixtures that had been "modernized" with fluorescent lamps. This restored the fixtures' original beauty and enhanced the quality of lighting in the lobby.

Finally, we concentrated on renovating the exterior of the building by choosing a color palette reminiscent of the building’s early appearance, thereby accentuating details and imbuing the exterior with a stately presence.