Appendix E: McAdoo's 1915 Classification System for Federal Buildings

Note: Taken from the Secretary of the United States Treasury Department's Annual Report on the Finances, 1915 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1915).

Class A.

Definition: Buildings that include a post office of the first class with annual receipts of $800,000 or over; the site forming part of a city development plan or situated on an important thoroughfare of a great city; improvements on adjoining property reaching the higher valuation of metropolitan real estate.

Character of building: Marble or granite facing; fireproof throughout; metal frames, sashes, and doors; interior finish to include the finer grades of marble, ornamental bronze work, mahogany, etc. Public spaces to have monumental treatment, mural decorations; special interior lighting fixtures.

Class B.

Definition: Buildings that include a post office of the first class with receipts from $60,000 to $800,000; valuation of adjoining property somewhat below the higher valuation of metropolitan real estate.

Character of building: Limestone or sandstone facing; fireproof throughout; exterior frames and sash metal; interior frames, sash, and doors wood; interior finish to exclude the more expensive woods and marbles; ornamental metal to be used only where iron is suitable. Restricted ornament in public spaces.

Class C.

Definition: Buildings that include a post office of the second class with receipts of $15,000 or over, and of the first class to $60,000 receipts; valuation of surrounding property that of a second-class city.

Character of building: Brick facing with stone or terra-cotta trimmings; fireproof floors; non-fireproof roof; frames, sashes, and doors wood; interior finish to exclude the more expensive woods and marbles; the latter used only where sanitary conditions demand; public spaces restricted to very simple forms of ornament.

Class D.

Definition: Buildings that include a post office having annual receipts of less than $15,000; real estate values identifying only a limited investment for improvements.

Character of building: Brick facing, little stone or terra cotta used; only first floor fireproof; stock sash, frames, doors, etc., where advisable; ordinary class of building, such as any businessman would consider a reasonable investment in a small town.