Designed by Norfolk architect Benjamin F. Mitchell and completed in 1934, the US Post Office and Courthouse (now the Walter E. Hoffman Courthouse) is a leading federal work in the monumental Art Deco style. The design follows the trend of the 1930s for federal architecture to serve as assertive symbols of democratic ideals and the strength of government institutions. Like many federal projects of the Depression era, the building blends stylized classical forms with the Art Deco format to create a stylish monumental character inside and out. Consistent with its dignified exterior is the main lobby, a grand hall ornamented with colorful stone veneers, metalwork details, and a richly decorated ceiling. Located in downtown Norfolk, the building was renovated and renamed in 1983 to accommodate the U.S. district court, at which time the post office function was removed.