The Fort Lauderdale Federal Courthouse project is a US$245 million, 10-storey civic building being constructed on the southern bank of the Tarpon River to replace the ageing 1979 courthouse on East Broward Boulevard. According to the most recent progress report from the U.S. General Services Administration, construction reached approximately 80% completion as of 1 April 2026, with pavilion steel erection finished, column concrete pour backs complete, and all active trades now working toward a final handover date. Gypsum installation and finish paint were nearing completion on Level 3 at the time of reporting, while the gypsum crew had moved to Level 1 to enable subcontractors to relocate into the building and facilitate removal of site office trailers.

A Long Road from Appropriation to Active Build

Since the original article’s publication in February 2022, the project has advanced through several critical phases. The GSA awarded the design-build contract to Birmingham-based Brasfield and Gorrie in February 2023 under a potential US$196 million construction agreement, following the receipt of supplemental funding in the FY2023 Omnibus spending package that pushed total authorised funding to US$245 million. Design formally commenced in March 2023 and concluded in October 2024. Site preparation and a new seawall along the Tarpon River were separated from the main build to allow early works to begin in January 2024, with full construction mobilisation following in September 2024. AT&T and the City of Fort Lauderdale completed utility relocation from the site in December 2023. The courthouse also reinforces the international footprint of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), whose portfolio now spans major civic, institutional and research projects globally, including the recently launched HKUST HK$2 billion Medical Complex at Clear Water Bay, another SOM-designed development intended to anchor long-term scientific and institutional growth.

Project Overview

• Project Name: New Fort Lauderdale U.S. Federal Courthouse
• Location: Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast 11th Street, Tarpon River, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
• Developer / Owner: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
• Total Cost / Value: US$245 million total authorised funding (site acquisition, design, and construction)
• Scale / Capacity: 255,000 gross square feet; 10 storeys; 12 courtrooms; 17 judges chambers
• Construction Start: Site preparation and seawall works began January 2024; full construction commenced September 2024
• Expected Completion: 2026
• Funding / Financing: U.S. Congressional appropriations via Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 and FY2023 Omnibus package
• Current Status: Approximately 80% complete as of April 2026; interior finishing works underway across multiple levels
• Key Milestone: Design-build contract awarded to Brasfield and Gorrie in February 2023; design phase completed October 2024

Project Team

• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) — Owner and Procurement Authority
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) — Lead Architect and Design Architect (GSA Design Excellence Program)
• HGA (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson) — Architect of Record / Design-Build Architect partner
• Brasfield & Gorrie — Design-Build General Contractor
• U.S. Congress — Funding Authority (FY2018 and FY2023 appropriations)
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida — Primary Court Tenant
• U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit) — Tenant Agency
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Tenant Agency
• U.S. Marshals Service — Tenant Agency
• U.S. Attorney’s Office — Tenant Agency
• U.S. Probation Office — Tenant Agency
• U.S. Trustee — Tenant Agency
• City of Fort Lauderdale — Local Authority and Utility Coordination
• AT&T — Utility Relocation (completed December 2023)

Reported 8th February 2022: (Skidmore Owings & Merrill) SOM’s architectural plans for the new Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse were recently approved by the United States General Services Administration(GSA). This new building is intended to replace the existing federal courthouse at 299 East Broward Boulevard, which was built in 1979. Renovations on the old courthouse are currently in progress to keep the building in a usable state, until construction work on the new courthouse reaches completion.

The new 252,000-square-foot Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse building will be developed on a 3.5 acre site bordering Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast 11th Street; which the federal government purchased last year, from Dunmore Properties at $13.6 million. The site selection process was handled by the GSA and about $190 million was allocated for replacing the federal courthouse in 2019.

Also Read Juvenile Court to build Nashville Youth Empowerment Campus

New Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse to house 12 courtrooms and 17 chambers

Development plans for the new Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse shows that it will be a 10-story building, located on the southern bank of Tarpon. The building’s facade applies a contemporary interpretation of Corinthian columns, consisting of fluted panels of metal and glass, which is designed to draw in ample sunlight. The courthouse will provide enough room to contain 12 courtrooms and 17 chambers for judges. This includes spaces for the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Marshals Service Offices, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Probation Office. On the outside, the property will feature new green spaces, such as a mangrove-lined riverfront trail.

Sustainable features were also incorporated into the design plans of the new Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse, and this includes the use of displacement ventilation in the courtrooms, natural lighting strategies, and supporting equipment to enable the installation of rooftop solar panels. These design plans by SOM have been  tailored to meet the standards for the LEED Gold and SITES Silver certification and after they have been implemented, the building is expected to have its energy consumption reduced by 30%. The completion date of this project is set for 2026.