U.S. Postal Service

Historic Sites

EI Associates has provided architectural and engineering services to the U.S. Postal Service throughout the Northeast Region since 1964. A recent design challenge was to maintain the historic and architectural integrity of the Grand Art Deco style customer lobby of the Paterson Main Post Office, while restoring and updating the facility to meet current USPS design guidelines.

Our design solution was a seamless blending of the new and the old. Marble clad walls and pilasters, terrazzo flooring, brass mail boxes, brass tables, light fixtures and bronze display cabinets were restored. A new suspended “coffered” ceiling hides ductwork, and new bullet resistant teller stations create minimal visual impact, fitting between existing pilasters and behind marble wainscotting.

The U.S. Post Office in East Orange, NJ is listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. EI Associates recently brought its experience in historic restoration and renovation to this building to repair the effects of time and use, restore its exterior appearance, and improve its interior conditions.

Exterior rehabilitation included the replacement of weathered limestone balustrades and coping, tuck-pointing the brick and limestone façade over the entire building, cleaning the masonry and brick façade, window replacement and partial re-roofing of the structure.

An “up-lifting” scheme was used in the high plaster ceiling areas with the sensitive historic nature of the structure in mind. A concurrent project included replacement of the boiler with a new high-efficiency dual fuel (gas and oil) unit.