Harold D. Donohue Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

a tree to the left of the image with a circular gazebo with pillars with the courthouse in the background

595 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
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The five-story Harold D. Donohue Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, located in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, is bounded by Federal Square, a pedestrian plaza to the east, Main Street to the north, Myrtle Street to the west, and Southbridge Street to the south. The building occupies the entire west end of the site. In 1987, the building was renamed the Harold D. Donohue Federal Building to honor the city’s beloved U.S. Representative, a World War II veteran who served in the House from 1947 to 1974.

Property Manager: Neal Babineau
Public Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Public Access: Security screening required
Key Tenants: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. District Court - District of Massachusetts, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, Social Security Administration’s Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review

Parking and Public Transportation

Worcester Regional Transit Authority. The Worcester Union Station is 0.6 miles away (MBTA). Parking garages are available within walking distance.

History and Architectural Features

The Worcester Post Office and Courthouse was constructed in 1930-1931 as a post office, courthouse, and a federal building. Inclusion of a courtroom and offices for federal judiciary officials marked the first presence of the U.S. District Court in Worcester. The new building replaced a handsome Romanesque Revival style Post Office that occupied the site since 1897. Federal Square, which fronts the northeast elevation of the building, was constructed in 1991. In 1993, the U.S. Post Office left the building and the interior space was reconfigured to accommodate the needs of the court. Federal Square has been replaced in the Fall of 2024 with a walking pavilion, in conjunction with the Hanover Theater beautification project funded by the city of Worcester.

Awards

Regional winner and finalist in the Building Owners and Managers Association’s The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) Award for 1996 to 1997.

Fine Arts Collection

The GSA Art in Architecture Program commissions the nation’s leading artists to create large-scale works of art for new federal buildings.
A Wall for Quock Walker” by artist Michael Hachey. Commissioned in 1995.

Landmark Status

Eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.