Des Moines Federal Courthouse

The new Des Moines U.S. Courthouse is a 230,000-square-foot federal facility serving the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa and other federal judicial tenants. The U.S. General Services Administration selected Neumann Monson Architects, Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, MODUS, and additional consultants for the design team in 2016, with Ryan Companies joining as construction manager in 2018.

As the MEP engineering consultant, MODUS designed and coordinated systems for public areas, nine courtrooms, judicial chambers, court support spaces, secure holding and transport areas, and building operations. Four dedicated energy recovery ventilators deliver outside air to variable-air-volume air handling systems with electric heat, chilled-water cooling, and electric reheat. Specialty systems and multiple levels of redundancy respond to the security and operational demands of each space type.

The electrical design supports the building's substantial all-electric heating load along with emergency, security, and court technology needs. MODUS collaborated with George Sexton Associates on lighting, balancing visual quality, performance, security, and cost. Digital lighting controls use scheduling, occupancy sensing, dimming, and daylight response to reduce energy use.

Sustainability goals included pursuit of LEED Gold certification for the building and SITES Silver certification for the landscape. The design incorporates a reflective cool roof, high-performance glazing, LED lighting, daylight harvesting, and extensive native planting as part of the project's energy and site-performance strategy.

MODUS also participated in detailed Building Information Modeling coordination with the design and construction teams so that complex systems, devices, and secure infrastructure could be integrated within the courthouse's architectural and structural constraints.