U.S. General Services Administration
Rededication ceremony held for Alton Lennon Courthouse in Wilmington
A rededication ceremony for the Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse in Wilmington, North Carolina was held Sept. 6, 2024. More than 200 people attended the event, held in front of the building that was significantly damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Originally constructed in 1919, the Lennon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a three story, 60,000 SF building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the Historic Downtown District along the revitalized Wilmington Riverwalk, it is an important economic and historical hub in the city’s growing downtown area.
While the Alton Lennon facility is located within Region 4, this project was a cross regional effort between Regions 3 and 4, said Regional Commissioner Jeff Smith. “After the hurricane, Regions 3 and 4 collaborated to assess the damages, develop a scope and estimate to support an emergency funding request,” he said. Due to requirements associated with this type of funding, the project was limited in scope – designed to return the building to occupiable condition as soon as possible and correct deficiencies to prevent future damages – but it was not a full modernization.
“However, through regional collaboration and innovation the project team was able to accomplish several other key improvements that will significantly improve the building performance for years to come.” Smith said. The improvements include the preservation and restoration of many of the original historic features, installation of a sprinkler system, modernization of the elevators, installation of a generator and hurricane rated windows, state of the art mechanical systems, as well as envelope and plaza repairs.
According to Smith, the project team overcame many obstacles including the impact of the Covid Pandemic which resulted in significant market escalation, supply chain delays and tenant changes. “In spite of these hurdles, the team was able to successfully complete the project under budget and ahead of schedule, achieve LEED Silver certification, and return the building to occupancy in just over 5 years from the day of the hurricane,” he said.
The project has also been recognized with several awards including the 2024 Project Management Award for Large Federal Construction Projects and an Award of Merit for Renovation Restoration by the Engineering News Record.