Administrative Offices of the United States Courts
Location: Nationwide
Client: AECOM
Owner: General Services Administration
Axias Role: Cost Estimating
Multiple buildings across the country totaling more than a million square feet were the subject of Axias’ cost estimating services under AECOM’s term contract. The objective of the work, which encompassed feasibility studies for new courthouses and renovations in nine states, was to establish whether an existing building was viable to accommodate the court’s future space needs through new layouts and renovations, or if a new facility was required. Our role was to estimate the cost of the proposed layouts so that the AOUSC could obtain funding for the preferred solution.
Nineteen projects were completed under the term contract, among them:
C.F. Haynsworth Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Greenville, South Carolina. The four-story building constructed in 1937 did not support future expansion or meet current needs. The study outcome favored a new 193,000-square-foot facility and plans to renovate the existing facility to accommodate various federal government agencies.
Estes Kefauver Federal Building, Nashville, Tennessee. On the National Register of Historic Places, the eight-story, 328,111-square-foot building was found to be inadequate to accommodate program needs, which led to the decision to build a new courthouse.
James Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley Courthouse, Toledo, Ohio. Constructed in 1932, the 92,000-square-foot building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The study findings led to a building renovation and the addition of a new 96,000-square-foot annex.
John H. Wood U.S. Courthouse, San Antonio, Texas. The study found that existing facilities including the courthouse, the Adrian A. Spears Training Center, and the federal building, were inadequate to meet the court’s needs. The study led to millions in funding for a new 305,000-square-foot facility to accommodate the consolidation of all court operations under one roof.
Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse, Charlotte, North Carolina. Built-in 1918, and tripled in size in 1933, the study identified the need for major upgrades to building systems and infrastructure, as well as for a new courthouse 198,000-square-foot annex.
Tomochichi U.S. Courthouse, Savannah, Georgia. Built in 1899, with an addition in 1932, the historic building no longer met the short- or long-term needs of the court and related agencies, nor did it meet modern safety, security, environmental, or operational standards. The study outcome was for the building to be renovated and a new 46,000-square-foot addition to be constructed.
U.S. Courthouse, Anniston, Alabama. The study determined that the existing federal building and courthouse, built in 1906 and expanded in 1935, no longer met modern standards for security, operational functionality, accessibility, and environmental efficiency. Funding was obtained for a new 63,000-square-foot courthouse.
U.S. Courthouse, Des Moines, Iowa. Constructed in 1929 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the five-story, E-shaped building was found to be inadequate to accommodate program needs, triggering the decision to build a new 229,000-square-foot courthouse.
U.S. Courthouse, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The 1960s era Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse did not meet the federal government's security and expansion requirements or accommodate the increasing caseload of the U.S. District Court for the state’s Middle District. The study also encompassed site selection and programming for a new 243,000-square-foot courthouse.
Other projects outside of this group included:
AOUSC Courthouse Fitout, Nationwide — Cost Analysis
Elijah Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, Washington, D.C. — Space Planning
Moakley U.S. Courthouse, Boston, MA — Renovation
U.S. District Court, Philadelphia, PA — Renovation
U.S. District Court, St. Louis, MO — Renovation