More Downtown Construction

More than two years after Congress approved funding for a new federal courthouse in downtown San Diego, the contract for the $295.7 million project was awarded to Hensel Phelps Construction of Irvine.

On October 1, the first day of the 2010 fiscal year, Senator Barbara Boxer and U.S. Representative Susan Davis announced the award of the project.

In a press release, Senator Boxer stated, “This funding could not come at a more critical time, as it will create much-needed jobs and help boost San Diego’s economy. And the new courthouse will be a more secure facility that will help federal judges in San Diego keep pace with one of the nation’s heaviest caseloads.”

At a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony in August of 2006, chief district judge Irma E. Gonzalez credited Rep. Davis and Mayor Jerry Sanders with convincing members of Congress that the courthouse was needed.

The 16-story, 467,000-square-foot courthouse will be built on Broadway between Union and State Streets, at the site of the former San Diego Hotel, which was demolished in 2006. According to government officials and the construction company, about 2000 new jobs will be created by this project.