Session

INTRODUCTION
The retrofit and modernization of the Frank E. Moss U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City transforms a historic landmark into a modern and resilient workplace for more than a dozen federal agencies. This session will present the project as a case study, addressing both resiliency measures and decarbonization. Presenters will explain the challenges of balancing seismic upgrades with historic preservation and how the introduction of new and efficient building systems created an opportunity for resiliency through redundancy. We also will discuss how the project pivoted to full electrification to pave the path for decarbonization.

RESILIENCY
Built in 1905 as a federal courthouse and U.S. post office, Moss Courthouse largely was outdated and vacant by 2020. The building’s unreinforced masonry construction and proximity to the Wasatch fault zone made it a high priority for GSA to retrofit. HOK’s architecture and engineering team designed a “building within a building” to meet the latest Federal Earthquake Risk Management Standard while respecting and maintaining the structure’s historic character. Seismic upgrades include the addition of reinforced concrete shear walls, new foundations, steel collector elements to tie together the original building with its two additions, and new attic bracing. While HOK’s structural engineers addressed seismic concerns, the firm’s mechanical engineers facilitated the restoration of historic corridors and public spaces while creating system redundancies.

DECARBONIZATION
The pressing challenges of limiting carbon emissions in our built environment are twofold: operational carbon and embodied carbon. The older structures that make up a considerable amount of our existing building stock all too often consume excessive energy for heating, cooling, and lighting, resulting in elevated operational carbon emissions. In contrast, embodied carbon is spent before the project opens, making an emphasis on this just as important.

The Moss Courthouse tackles both operational and embodied carbon considerations. Once complete, the building will use 50% less energy and 30% less water than a similar-sized building thanks to features including new all-electric boilers, hot water heaters, and an active chilled beam system. The modernization of this historic structure is expected to save the government up to $6 million annually in lease costs. Embodied carbon was reduced by 59% compared with constructing a new replacement building.

COMMUNITY
Beyond providing a sustainable and dignified workplace for federal employees, this session also will address how the building will welcome the wider Salt Lake City populace. New conference spaces will be available for use by community groups. Informational displays, graphics, and signage will educate the public about the building history, renovation process, and energy efficiency measures; a public cultural archives room will display salvaged historic objects. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to hold citizenship ceremonies on site.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how to achieve seismic resilience in a historic unreinforced masonry structure
• Explain how efficient building systems with redundancies also can contribute to resilience
• Explore Moss Courthouse as a case study for reducing both embodied and operational carbon
• Explore Moss Courthouse as an example of electrification and GSA’s roadmap to decarbonization across its portfolio