Public Health Building

The public building that houses the Spokane Regional Health District should be considered an achievement of the Mid-Century Modern movement in architecture, but the 1977 strucuture has often been criticized by local residents who see the towers as silos. As it ages, it may be a more comfortable fit for the community, standing as it does prominently on the North Bank as a complement to the more ornate Courthouse to the north. The brick color as well as the towers and curving lines reflect the design of the Courthouse. Spokane architect Warren Heylman defended his work in 1976 by saying that its form was new and would be accepted as time went on. The towers hold elevators, stairways and mechanical equipment, allowing for maximum use of floor space as well as flexibility for future needs.