The new courthouse will bring federal courts and partners together in one secure building.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) joined federal, state and local leaders in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Oct. 21 to break ground on a new classically inspired federal courthouse designed by HOK.
The approximately 191,000-sq.-ft., $282 million courthouse will consolidate the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, along with the Circuit Library, in a single building. It will include seven courtrooms, nine judges’ chambers and 40 secure interior parking spaces, as well as dedicated space for federal partners including the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service. Funding for the project totals $282 million.
HOK is the designer of record. The design pairs modern functionality with classical architecture to create a secure, dignified civic landmark that will serve as the center of justice for the region.
“This courthouse will stand as an institution of dignity, stability and justice—and as part of the enduring federal legacy we pass on to future generations,” said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst.
Chief Judge Travis R. McDonough of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee called the ceremony the culmination of decades of effort. “Together, we will create a premier civic and architectural landmark—a testament to our city’s history and prominence as well as our nation’s commitment to equal justice,” he said.
Brasfield & Gorrie is Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc), and fs3|Hodges is Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa). Site work is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2027, with full construction starting later that year. GSA expects substantial completion in 2030.
Read GSA’s news release on the groundbreaking. Track project updates and upcoming milestones on GSA’s Chattanooga U.S. Courthouse project page.