BISMARCK — The Federal Building in downtown Fargo has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to information provided by the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
The register is the federal government’s list of properties it considers worthy of preservation and recognition.
North Dakota nominations are coordinated by the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
According to the historical society:
The Federal Building and Post Office complex in Fargo was designed by Foss, Engelstad & Foss, Inc. of Fargo and built in 1969.
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The design was influenced by the New Formalism style of architecture, an approach that can be seen in the Fargo building's proportion and scale, as well as the use of colonnades, engaged arches, and smooth, black marble and white quartz aggregate cast-stone.
The design embraces the modern idea of "form follows function," with different materials and ornamentation used to express the building's different functions.
Builders used high-quality local materials, such as Mankota stone and terrazzo, for the public spaces and more economical materials for the non-public spaces.
Contrary to popular belief, a listing on the National Register program does not prevent owners of a building from altering the property, restrict the use or sale of the property, or require establishing times that the property must be open to the public.
What placement on the register does do is give a property prestige, provides protection from adverse effects in federally assisted projects, and provides eligibility for certain preservation financial incentives.
For more information about the National Register program in North Dakota visit www.history.nd.gov .
