The federal government built well in the 1960s and 1970s. This is not a popular opinion, but it is defensible. The General Services Administration, which is responsible for federal buildings, had a design program during this period that took architecture seriously. The buildings it commissioned were not always beautiful, but they were substantial, carefully detailed, and built to last.
Miami has three significant federal buildings from this period. The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse (originally the Federal Building and Courthouse) was completed in 1977. The Claude Pepper Federal Building was completed in 1964. The James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building was completed in 1975.
Condition Report
All three buildings are in active use. All three show signs of deferred maintenance. The concrete on the Ferguson building has been patched in several places, and the patches are visible. The Pepper building's original aluminum window frames have been replaced with vinyl, which is a significant alteration. The King building is in the best condition of the three.
The federal government built well in the 1960s and 1970s. This is not a popular opinion, but it is defensible.
The larger question is what happens when these buildings reach the end of their useful lives as federal offices. The GSA has been selling off federal buildings in downtown areas for decades. When these buildings are sold, they are typically converted to other uses or demolished. The preservation track record is not encouraging.