Mobile, Ala. – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama, and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will today break ground on the new federal courthouse construction project in Mobile, Alabama. The 2:00 p.m. ceremony bridging the existing and new courthouse sites will be hosted by GSA Public Buildings Commissioner Norman Dong, Chief Judge William Steele and Senior Judge Charles R. Butler, Jr. The event will also include remarks by U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne, Mobile Mayor William “Sandy” Stimson, and the lead project designers.
The $90 million courthouse project funded in Fiscal Year 2015 will be performed in two phases: 1) Construction of a new U.S. District Courthouse slated for completion in Fiscal Year 2018, followed by 2) Renovation of the John A. Campbell U.S. Courthouse expected to be completed in Fiscal Year 2020.
STATEMENTS:
GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Norman Dong: “As landlord to the federal government, GSA recognizes the power of public spaces to transform communities. GSA has designed the Mobile courthouse project to meet the judiciary’s 21st century needs, contribute to local development goals, and maximize taxpayer savings. The project couples the public’s investment with design excellence and economic opportunity.”
Mobile Mayor William “Sandy” Stimpson: “I applaud the U.S. District Court and the U.S. General Services Administration’s decision to invest in Downtown Mobile because every great city has a great downtown. The restoration of the historic John A. Campbell U.S. Courthouse and the construction of a new U.S. District Courthouse will be a catalyst for growth attracting new jobs to our area.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The Mobile courthouse project will meet the long-term needs of the U.S. Courts in southern Alabama and consolidate court operations out of leased space into a secure, high-performing, federally-owned campus that saves $805,135 in annual lease payments. Project highlights include:
A new 155,600 square foot courthouse with 6 courtrooms and 9 chambers. The courthouse will feature a limestone facade sourced from Russellville, Alabama;
Renovations to the Campbell Courthouse designed to improve security and accessibility, upgrade to energy-efficient building systems, enhance life safety features (including installation of a new fire suppression system), abate hazardous materials and improve tenant and public spaces;
Energy Star-rated equipment, high efficiency lighting, water conserving plumbing, solar-powered water heating systems, and low-emitting materials in both facilities;
Sustainable designs projected to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) Gold certification standards; and
A $15 million small business goal.
Once constructed, the new courthouse will house the U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court, U.S. District Clerk of Court and U.S. Marshals Service. The renovated Campbell Courthouse will accommodate the U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court, U.S. District Clerk of Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Clerk of Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Administrator, U.S. Probation, Federal Public Defender’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, a Congressional Office, and GSA.
GSA awarded the design-build contract to Yates Construction in April 2015. Hartman Cox’s Lee Becker and Mary Kay Lanzillotta are lead designers on the new courthouse and renovation projects, respectively. URS/AECOM is the architect and engineer of record.
