by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
As the new U.S. Courthouse finds its niche in the downtown skyline, contractors say the project is right on schedule and should open by October.
The 25-story, 15-floor structure replaces the existing courthouse across the street.
“Interior finishing work proceeding on levels four through 14 is 50 percent complete,” said Brian Murray, senior project manager for Beers Skanska. “For levels one through three, it’s about 20 percent there.”
On the east side of the building, where the main entrance will be located, an atrium is under construction, which is about 50 percent complete. Murray calculates the whole project is about 78 percent complete. Of the 17 courtrooms, six are ready for occupancy.
“We are continuing all the finishing work, getting the interior built out,” said Murray.
“The balance is finishing work — drywall, paint, stone work and the running trim [the millwork outside the courtrooms]. It is in the winding-down stage.”
Because of stringent building standards for federal buildings, the project has taken almost three years.
“It was a fairly straightforward project but was more complex because it was designed to withstand a higher blast load due to the Oklahoma City bombing,” said Murray. “A normal building of that size would only take two years but this takes longer due to the complexity.”
Limited parking will be available under the building, however those spaces will not be open to the public. The underground lots will be used mostly by marshals transporting prisoners.
“There will be some secured parking but there’s not enough for everyone,” said Murray. “The existing courthouse doesn’t offer parking either so I guess people will park where they parked before. There’s enough land space down here [downtown]; we just need to utilize it.”
The new courthouse is located behind the Hemming Plaza Skyway Station and bordered by Hogan, Duval, Monroe and Julia streets. The host of courtrooms in the facility includes eight district, four magistrate, four bankruptcy and one circuit courtroom. Judge’s chambers, jury deliberation areas, jury assembly and grand jury seats, holding cells and other support areas will accompany the courtrooms. Additionally, the U.S. District Court and Clerk of Court, U.S. Magistrate Court, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Probation Office and other non-court related federal agencies will be housed there.