40 Foley Square Thurgood Marshall US Courthouse

SBI Consultants’ involvement with this 1933 historic project, designed by Cass Gilbert and located at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan, began in 2002 and continued through 2005/2006. The project, which spans approximately 730,000 square feet, includes a 30-story tower on top of a seven-story podium/base, featuring interior courtyards and a colonnade façade. Other key features of the project include:

• A pyramid-shaped roof clad in terra cotta and gold leaf
• The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
• A listing on the National Register of Historic Places and designation as a New York City landmark
• 35 courtrooms, 16 of which are original with paneled walls, arches, and fluted pilasters.

SBI’s scope involved working on several aspects of the project, including replacing building MEP systems, as well as exterior restoration work on the roof, and replacement of sidewalks and podium stairs. The restoration work for the interior encompassed stone cleaning, restoration of bronze architectural elements, repairing various windows and ceilings, and restoring several designated courtrooms. Work had to be conducted while the building was in partial occupancy.

Working with the GSA, the Courts, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and other project stakeholders, SBI was involved in the following projects:

1. Upgrades to the building steam system ($9.5 million)
2. Exterior work and pyramid roof restoration ($5 million)
3. Exterior stairs restoration ($3.5 million)
4. Upgrades to fire protection systems ($1.2 million)
5. Interior fit-out and upgrades to HVAC and electrical systems ($160 million)

Due to the importance and high profile of this project, SBI’s professionalism and accuracy in numbers enabled the team, GSA, and the Courts to make accurate and informed recommendations to members of Congress.