New Des Moines U.S. Courthouse

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

In 2016, Congress appropriated funding for the construction of a new 230,000-gross-square-foot federal courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa, for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Anticipated to achieve LEED Gold certification, the new courthouse will provide nine courtrooms, offices, and workspace for: The Southern District of Iowa Judiciary, Southern District of Iowa Bankruptcy, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, including a satellite library, GSA building management space, trial preparation space for the Federal Public Defenders and the U.S. Attorneys.

Current Status

Due to delays with the new courthouse construction project at 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA, 50309, the U.S. District Court in Des Moines is continuing to conduct business at 123 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.  When a move-in date is finalized, it will be posted to this website.  Any questions may be directed to the Clerk of Court’s office, at 515-284-6248.

Project details

Total authorized funding: $140,602,000 for site acquisition, design, construction, and related expenses                                   
Project delivery method: Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc)                                                                                         
Lead design architect: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects

Project Schedule:

• Construction substantial completion: March 2024

Awarded contracts

• Jacobs Technology (Construction Manager as Agent)
• Neumann Monson Architects ​(Design Architect of Record)
• Ryan Companies US, Inc. ​(Construction Manager as Constructor, CMc)

Final Environmental Assessment [PDF - 10 MB] (August 2018)

News releases

2022

• GSA is building a new U.S. Courthouse in Iowa with sustainability in mind
• GSA selects Des Moines U.S. Courthouse project artist for the Art in Architecture commission 

2021

• GSA releases time-lapse video to mark ‘topping-out’ on new Des Moines U.S. Courthouse

2019

• Groundbreaking marks start of construction on new courthouse
• GSA releases approved design concept of new Des Moines U.S. Courthouse

2018

• GSA executes contract to purchase property for new Des Moines federal courthouse
• GSA awards design phase services contract for new federal courthouse
• GSA publishes Final Environmental Assessment for new federal courthouse

2017

• GSA announces next steps toward identifying site for new federal courthouse
• GSA announces preferred site, public comment period for new Des Moines courthouse
• Courthouse Environmental Assessment nears completion
• GSA announces list of sites for new Des Moines federal courthouse

2016

• GSA announces Congressional authorization of Des Moines courthouse
• GSA announces $947 million courthouse investment plan

2015

• FY 2016 funding meets Judiciary needs

Media Inquiries

Matthew Doyle
Public Affairs Officer
matthew.doyle@gsa.gov
816-316-6124