Built in 1917 and designed by acclaimed New York architect Henry Davis Whitfield, the historic Hilo Federal Building was built to house a U.S. Post Office, Custom House and Courthouse. From August 2009 to September 2011, MASON served as Project Manager, Architect and Historical Architect on a restoration project, overseeing building repairs and conducting extensive work on the former courtroom space to tell the story of its unique history.

Our work on this project included increasing seismic resistance; making mechanical and electrical upgrades (including plumbing, fire protection, air-conditioning and communication systems); and overseeing concrete spall repairs, hazardous abatement, and accessibility alterations. We also restored both the courtyard fountain fronting the building as well as the third-floor courtroom, which involved removing the false ceiling and refurbishing the original skylight and clerestory windows.

One of the major challenges was adding significant shear walls at the ends of the 1938 wings nearest to the original section without negatively affecting the functional space in this relatively small building.

Photo credit: David Franzen