First class
The new U.S. Post Office in Ketchum, which recently
emerged from the wrap that shielded construction from the winter cold, is
a beautiful piece of work.
The post office is a handsome example of good public
architecture. With its elegant use of brick, rock and timber, the building
will become a local landmark.
The post office says a lot about Ketchum—and the nation.
It says that Ketchumites care about the way the city
looks. It says the city has become more than a temporary wilderness
outpost. It says that the U.S. Postal Service appreciated the native
beauty of the area enough not to mar it with a cheap piece of work.
The post office is an important place in Ketchum. It’s a
place where neighbors see neighbors. It’s a focal point for community
information of all kinds. It’s not just a place where letters and
official business are dropped into slots and sorted into boxes.
The downtown location says the postal service listened
when residents said it is important to keep commercial uses in a compact
area instead of pushing ungainly commercial sprawl. Not only did officials
listen, they responded.
The design of the new building demonstrates that modern
government buildings do not have to be ugly just because they are
utilitarian.
As a public building, the post office is more than a pile
of brick and mortar. It’s design will shape, define and inspire life in
Ketchum for decades to come. It says Ketchum is proud and optimistic. It
says Ketchum appreciates its surroundings—both the stuff of man and
Mother Nature.
The postal service could have built an ugly box, but
thankfully, it did not. The post office will be a proud part of Ketchum
for generations to come. It’s First Class.
