The cat's meow…

KELLOGG — The results are in and (unsurprisingly) Kellogg High School has come out on top in the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office Mid-Mod March Madness tournament.

"We all should have known in the 'Year of the Tiger' that the Kellogg Wildcats could not be stopped," ISHPO posted on their Facebook page Monday. "Kellogg High School mauled the competition receiving 1,839 votes to the First Federal Savings in Moscow’s 379 votes in the championship round."

KHS was already sitting with a comfortable 536 to 37 lead on March 28, so this outcome could be expected.

ISHPO said that with more than 3,400 votes cast throughout all the rounds, "it's clear that the folks in Kellogg are proud of their Mid-Mod school."

Since the tournament began in early March, the contest became viral among wildcat supporters on social media — leading to some pretty staggering victories.

Receiving more than 500 votes throughout each round, notable buildings such as the Bonners Ferry American Legion building, Nelson's Cafe in Burley, Scotty's Drive-In in Post Falls, and now the First Federal Savings building in Moscow just couldn't garner the support that the KHS building had.

ISHPO explains on the voting page that in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in mid-century architecture and the style of the era across Idaho and the nation, due in part to the influence of pop culture and television shows like "Mad Men," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "The Queen's Gambit."

"However, while some appreciate the clean lines of mid century-modern homes or even Grandma’s kitschy, decorated ranch house, these resources continue to be threatened due to a lack of understanding about their significance and an absence of local protections," they added.

In an effort to better identify, document and designate these resources, ISHPO decided to spotlight this specific type of architecture in their 2nd bracket challenge.

"We hope this year’s tournament has brought awareness to the vast number and variety of mid-century architecture in the state and inspires the preservation and careful rehabilitation of these buildings," said ISHPO Compliance Architectural Historian Ashely Molloy.

While bragging rights are the biggest prize for coming out on top, Molloy is hopeful that the win draws attention to the school to get it on the National Register.

"We love our high school building!" Kellogg School District Superintendent Lance Pearson said. "The first time I went in there, I was shocked at what a great building it is and we just all think the world of it. It should be recognized, it's a cool building!

According to the Society of Architectural Historians, built in 1957, Kellogg High School is one of Idaho’s best and earliest examples of mid-century modernism.

"Here the early-twentieth-century ideals of Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe come to fruition through a plan that harvests an abundance of fresh air and light while ensuring grand views of the mountains and town below. The building was designed by leading educational architects Perkins and Will of Chicago, who envisioned the school as a cultural and lifelong learning center."

Photos: Award, architectural rendering, current-day photo of the front of the school, an overview shot of the school and gym, and two images from Architectural Record.