GSA Kicks Off Recovery Act Construction Project in Billings

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The U.S. General Services Administration is commencing work on a new, energy-efficient U.S. courthouse in downtown Billings, Montana, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Demolition work on two buildings on the site of the future courthouse begins today, October 2.

The demolition work is being performed by SBH, Inc., a local service-disabled veteran-owned small business. As part of a high-performance green building construction project, the demolition work will incorporate many green practices, including recycling as much material as possible, protecting nearby trees, and salvaging concrete from the old buildings' foundations to be reused as structural fill.

"This iconic structure will add a new dynamic to the downtown Billings landscape. It will serve as a green landmark and it is already creating local jobs," said GSA Acting Regional Administrator Tim Horne.

GSA has allocated $80 million in Recovery Act funds to build a federally-owned U.S. Courthouse in Billings. The building, scheduled for completion in early 2013, will be built to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its use of energy-efficient technologies. In addition to the federal court, the building will house the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Probation, consolidating several separate downtown offices.

GSA was appropriated more than $5.5 billion under the Recovery Act to convert federal buildings into high-performance green buildings, and build new, energy-efficient federal buildings, courthouses and land ports of entry. These projects will deliver lasting progress toward modernizing the nation's infrastructure, reducing the federal government's consumption of energy and water, and increasing the use of clean and renewable sources of energy.

###

Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than 11 percent of the government's total procurement dollars and $24 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 213,000 vehicles.

GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 480 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.

GSA's mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

---