Old Courthouse Gets a Facelift in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — After a yearlong delay, a renovation project that included general restorations and security upgrades at the historic Duluth Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is complete.

The $576,000 project included restoration of the building’s 20th-century granite plaza and integration of modern technology, including installation of a security screening station and a ramp for the disabled. A post office, which occupies most of the first floor of the building, was also updated with a new business center.

The project, designed by DLR Group, reached completion in October 2005.

The renovations required the design team to mesh modern material with the building’s 1930s features. The building’s wall material — early 20th century kasota stone — forced the masonry contractor and design team to experiment with different oils and sealants with new kasota stone to create consistency with interior renovations.

“We quickly learned that the existing stone had a tung oil applied to it that gave it kind of a matte sheen,” says Todd Jelinski, construction administrator for DLR Group. “We had to add the tung oil to the new stone and it was very hard to tell the new versus the old once that process got finished.”

New granite construction and restoration in the building’s plaza also required a match to the original granite façade.

Other interior restoration includ-ed reproduction of Art Deco light fixtures, elevator indicators and original window framing. A historian hired by the GSA was on location to help the design team maintain the 1930s style.

The project also included relocation of an IRS office, fire alarm replacement and mechanical systems improvements.