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Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse

Project Summary

In September 2023, GSA procured windows made of low embodied carbon glass as part of a larger renovation projectopens in new window at the Lewis F. Powell Jr. U.S. Courthouseopens in new window in Richmond, Virginia. Powell U.S. Courthouse was constructed in 1858; the adjacent Annex was added in 1936 and the complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This project replaced all of the existing glazing. The project was one of 11 low embodied carbon pilot projects announced by GSA in May 2023 - and the first GSA project to be awarded via funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, section 60503.

Sustainability Features

The benefits of this project are: Improved energy efficiency and reduced long-term energy costs by employing upgraded windows, frames, and sashes to help eliminate air leakage and increase insulation ratings from existing panes, while reducing carbon emissions through the use of low embodied carbon glass materials . The glass qualified as low embodied carbon by falling within the top 40% limit for flat glass established in GSA’s Interim IRA Low Embodied Carbon Material Requirementsopens in new window. The product met the courthouse’s needs while generating fewer emissions from manufacturing, with a third-party verified global warming potential of 1,350 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per metric ton.

Historic Impacts

The new LEC glazing was installed into either refurbished steel framed windows or newly built sashes for the wood windows. All window alterations were required to adhere to the historical preservation guidelines for the existing frames to maintain the architectural aesthetic of the building. Various ancillary upgrades to the windows included restored hardware, refurbished sills, new frame paint and sealants, and repairs to surrounding masonry or brick molding.

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Media

A photo of the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Courthouse with several downtown Richmond buildings in the background and a grass lawn in the foreground. The building is three stories tall and in the Italianate style with white stone walls and a red tile roof.

Exterior photo of the façade of the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. courthouse from the street. It's taken at an angle and shows a four story Italianate building made of white stone with two green trees in front.

A mockup of a temporary window in the courthouse. It shows a wood frame with translucent white sheeting over the window that lets in light. The arch at the top of the window is blocked out.

Photo of a worker installing a new tile roof on the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. courthouse. There are four rows of red tile shingles installed in the foreground near the roof edge, with more rows in the background. The buildings of downtown Richmond are visible in the background.