Planning for Tucson’s new 4.5 million dollar United States Main Post Office facility was underway by July of 1970. The building’s construction schedule was delayed by president Nixon who reduced federal project spending in September of 1969 in an attempt to slow inflation. On July 28, 1970 postmaster General Winton S. Blount announced the funds were released as part of priority federal projects. (Tucson Daily Citizen, 1 Down 1 To Go, July 29, 1970).  Cain Nelson Ware, Cook & Associates were hired as architects for the buildings and Metz Construction Inc. selected as the contractors.  (Arizona Daily Star, Post Office Low Bid is Too High, May 12, 1971.)  The large 145,000 square feet concrete building replaced three other postal facilities scattered throughout Tucson.  Groundbreaking took place July 17, 1971 and the building formally opened on November 20, 1972. The utilization of oversized structural post and beam components imbues the building with monuntal scaling. The design form is enhanced by the use of recessed glass and metal panels framed by the repetition of the concrete structural elements. These structural devices provide shade and were a design response to the desert environment. The Arizona Daily Star noted at the opening of the new plant that the building “reflects modern building styles for the desert.” (Brelowe, Herma, Mail Service Shared Area’s Pioneer Past, Arizona Daily Star, November 19, 1972)

(Written by Demion Clinco, Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation)