The $141-million effort to renovate and modernize the U.S. Courthouse in Charlotte created an anchor for revitalization and future development in the city’s Central Business District.

Originally constructed in 1915, the 143,000-sq-ft courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and is an example of the Neoclassical Revival style of architecture, exhibiting a grandeur that the project team worked to keep intact.

The more than four-year renovation and addition project included a 213,000-sq-ft annex and 10 courtrooms and is designed with various sustainability and energy conservation strategies that are expected to reduce associated investment costs by payback in under four years.

The main hallways in the building were retained for historic reasons but would no longer be adequately braced once the plaster ceiling was removed; the project team collaborated to brace the walls with metal stud kickers attached to existing steel members, supporting the terra-cotta historic walls in lieu of demolishing them.

Brasfield & Gorrie completed the project below budget and ahead of schedule.