GSA celebrates nearly $50 million for improvements to Moss Courthouse in Salt Lake City as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

March 12, 2024

Project will use Inflation Reduction Act funds for clean construction materials and to convert building to all-electric operations 

SALT LAKE CITY – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced nearly $50 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds for improvements to the historic Frank E. Moss U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Roughly half of the funds–made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history–will be used for low-embodied carbon (LEC) materials including concrete, glass and steel that have fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production. The remainder of the IRA funds will be used for emerging and sustainable technologies that will cut operational emissions and enable the historic courthouse to run on 100% electric power. 

The Moss Courthouse project, a $100 million renovation project that started in 2022, is one of more than 150 LEC projects that GSA announced last November as part of the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, and one of the 100 buildings that GSA announced for conversion to all-electric HVAC and water heating systems last June. The project will replace aging infrastructure with modern and efficient mechanical equipment, preserve historic spaces and materials, and Buy Clean construction materials while addressing seismic and structural deficiencies. Once complete, GSA’s preservation of this 118-year old historic building will ensure its continued prominence in downtown Salt Lake City and upgrade the Moss Courthouse into a model of sustainable modernization.

“This project is a prime example of how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is catalyzing innovation, driving sustainability, and creating good-paying manufacturing jobs here at home,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re transforming federal facilities like the Moss Courthouse into models of clean energy innovation and catalysts for the domestic manufacturing industries of the future, all while reducing harmful pollution and saving taxpayer money.” 

This deep energy retrofit will reduce annual energy use by 52% and also meet the Administration’s Federal Building Performance Standard by eliminating fossil fuel use on-site. Through building reuse and the selection of low embodied carbon materials, the Moss Courthouse will reduce whole-building material-related greenhouse gas emissions by 57%, compared to the construction of a new building. Following the renovation, the building will use chilled beam technology and high efficiency air handling units, plus electric boilers and water heaters to condition its spaces. These improvements will reduce energy consumption while increasing occupant comfort.

Following these improvements, the Moss Courthouse will house ten federal agencies including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The announcement furthers the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, under which the federal government is, for the first time, prioritizing the purchase of LEC asphalt, concrete, glass and steel that have lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production, use and disposal. These investments aim to expand America’s industrial capacity for manufacturing goods and materials of the future, tackle the climate crisis, and create good-paying jobs for workers in the region.

This effort also supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Sustainability Plan and Executive Order 14057 by advancing toward a net-zero emissions Federal building portfolio by 2045.

“GSA is committed to support the use of building materials that help address climate change with products made right here in America,” said Denise Maes, Regional Administrator for GSA’s Rocky Mountain Region. “Upgrading this facility is also prudent to help reduce our energy costs and save taxpayer dollars.” 

“Investments such as these improve air quality, trim energy bills, enhance resiliency, and reduce climate impact,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “That’s something all Salt Lakers can benefit from. The federal government should be leading in exactly these ways as we collectively work to act on climate. We are grateful to benefit from this project – and the many other investments from the Inflation Reduction Act here in Salt Lake City.”

The Inflation Reduction Act includes $3.4 billion for GSA to build, modernize, and maintain more sustainable and cost-efficient high-performance facilities. This IRA funding includes $2.15 billion specifically for LEC construction materials. GSA’s IRA projects will implement new technologies and accelerate GSA’s efforts toward achieving a net-zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045. Through these investments, GSA estimates a total greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 2.3 million metric tons, the same amount that 500,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles produce each year.

This announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, focused on growing the American economy from the bottom up and the middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

To learn more about GSA’s Inflation Reduction Act projects, visit GSA’s IRA web page. 

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. The GSA’s Rocky Mountain Region provides products and services throughout Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. For more information, visit GSA Region 8 and follow us at @US_GSAR8.