The project to create a unified federal complex included rehabilitation of a 1937 courthouse and the 1897 Erie County Library, adaptive reuse of the 1946 Baker retail building, and new construction of a connector building.

Keast & Hood performed initial surveys to review the existing structure and capacity of the buildings prior to acquisition by the General Services Administration, and then provided structural engineering for the new skylit, glass-walled entry and connector building to link the existing courthouse and historic library. The library was rehabilitated and modified for use as a new Bankruptcy Court facility. Structural work included design of a mid-height judges’ library. The project encompassed 165,000 sf of space.

The Erie Federal Building earned a 2004 GSA Design Award for Preservation.

The project to create a unified federal complex included rehabilitation of a 1937 courthouse and the 1897 Erie County Library, adaptive reuse of the 1946 Baker retail building, and new construction of a connector building.

Keast & Hood performed initial surveys to review the existing structure and capacity of the buildings prior to acquisition by the General Services Administration, and then provided structural engineering for the new skylit, glass-walled entry and connector building to link the existing courthouse and historic library. The library was rehabilitated and modified for use as a new Bankruptcy Court facility. Structural work included design of a mid-height judges’ library. The project encompassed 165,000 sf of space.

The Erie Federal Building earned a 2004 GSA Design Award for Preservation.

CLIENT: KSBA and DPK&A Architects Joint Venture
LOCATION: Erie, PA

TYPE: Government, Historic, Library, SERVICES: Adaptive Reuse, Addition, New Construction, Renovation, MATERIALS: Masonry, Steel, SUSTAINABILITY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Completed project photography © Michael Thomas