Louisville Sites

The WPA completed this law school building in 1938-39 when it was known simply as the University of Louisville Law School. The project submitter reports that the building's WPA heritage is locally known, and is also referenced in a letter dated May 13, 1938 from Adele Brandeis, Director of the FAP for Kentucky to Thomas Parker.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the College Court housing development in Louisville, KY. The City of Louisville used municipal condemnation to conduct slum clearance and develop public housing projects on cleared land with funding from the PWA Housing Division. This led to the construction of two housing projects, College Court and La Salle Place. Completed in 1937, College Court was built at Seventh Street and Kentucky on the site of the former Eclipse Baseball Park. The project H-2503, was for Black residents whereas La Salle Place was for White families. Today, College Court still stands and continues on...

La Salle Place is a 210 unit, low income housing project constructed in 1935-36. It covers over 14 acres, cost $1,200,000 to build and was sited on empty land.  It was one of 50 low income housing projects funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA) Housing Division nationwide, 1933-35. La Salle Place was intended for unskilled workers at nearby tobacco and motor factories in Louisville. The buildings were designed to be oriented away from the industries to the north toward the prevailing winds from the southwest.  The facility is heated by a central unit. Each unit came with electric light, refrigeration,...

"The rapid growth of the city of Louisville, population 307,745 in 1930, necessitated additional facilities for the fire department. A grant was secured from the PWA with which this central fire station was built, as well as a hospital annex, an extension to the sewerage system, and some park recreational improvements. The total cost of all of these projects was $1,665,230. The fire station is three stories and a basement in height, approximately 90 by 120 feet in plan, and has a volume of 564,322 cubic feet. In the basement is a swimming pool, 30 by 60 feet. The first floor...

From contributor Charles Swaney: "Modern deco design in this 2-story building that presently houses the Communication Arts Center of Trinity High School.  Trees obscure the front façade, but the prominent vertical elements surrounding the entry are still evident as is the rounded portico above the entry." The building is now the Trinity High School Communication Arts Center.

Now known as the Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse and Custom House, the historic United States Post Office, Court House and Custom House in Louisville, Kentucky was constructed in 1931-2, before the advent of the New Deal. However, in "1936, with a growing need for more offices and courtrooms, the PWA also funded the addition of the sixth floor."

Now known as the Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse and Custom House, the historic United States Post Office, Court House and Custom House in Louisville, Kentucky houses New Deal artwork. "The building was among the first recipients of artwork commissioned by the Treasury Relief Art Project — a program ... that employed painters and sculptors to incorporate art within the interiors of federal buildings nationwide. In 1935, the PWA funded artist Frank Weathers Long, a Kentucky native, to paint ten murals depicting regional themes of commerce, agriculture, and sport."

Two 4' high classical style sculptures flank the entrance to Grawemeyer Hall. They were built in 1939 with WPA Federal Art Project funding. The artist is unknown.