U.S. Post Office and Courthouse

New Bern, North Carolina

Client: U.S. General Services Administration

Size: 38,000 SF

Trivers Role: Lead Architect, Historic Architect, Interior Design

Photographer: Carol Highsmith

Trivers was selected by U.S. General Services Administration through their Design Excellence Program to perform major restoration and renovation to the 1933 historic Geogian Revival U.S. Post office & Courthouse structure in New Bern, North Carolina.

The scope included historic public spaces, the renovation of the major historic U.S. District Court courtroom and the addition of a new U.S. Bankruptcy Court courtroom/hearing room developed in former U.S. Post Office space. An addition was constructed to handle new secure judge and prisoner circulation, a vehicular sallyport, U.S. Marshals Service space, and an additional means of egress.

Building accessibility and security was also  addressed, at both the front public entry and rear employee entrance. An updated security screening situation was implemented, but in a way that is respectful of the building’s historic site, entrance and postal lobby.