Project Overview

The Joseph P. Kinneary U.S. Courthouse has stood along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus for 80 years. A $26.8 million federal project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is designed to help the courthouse last for decades more. The project was recently completed after more than three years, and was overseen by the U.S. General Services Administration that owns and maintains the federal building.

The building's Neoclassical style architecture features cornices, three elevations and a massive colonnade. The façade of the building is composed mainly of granite wainscot and Berea sandstone cladding, while the windows feature Vermont marble panels and iron grill encasements, creating old world elegance. In June 2012, the Kinneary Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Approach

Berglund Construction provided design-build services for an extensive limestone facade restoration for the General Services Administration. The repairs were complete after a thorough investigation and trial repairs, allowing design of several options. The improvements helped reduce the buildings’ energy and water consumption, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars. Portions of the deteriorating sandstone were repaired by maintaining the historic look of the building. Carved stone figures and animals were cleaned. Reglazed and resealed windows add to the building’s energy efficiency.

Outcomes

Berglund self performed the entire project, which was finished one year ahead of GSA’s original schedule and $1 million below GSA’s budget. The project was awarded GSA’s “Project Excellence Award,” one of only 12 awards given every other year by the GSA.