New Des Moines U.S. Courthouse

Rendering of East Locust Street and riverfront sides. Courtesy of Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

In 2016, Congress appropriated funding for the construction of a new 230,000-gross-square-foot federal courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa, for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Anticipated to achieve LEED Gold certification, the new courthouse will provide nine courtrooms, offices, and workspace for: The Southern District of Iowa Judiciary, Southern District of Iowa Bankruptcy, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, including a satellite library, GSA building management space, trial preparation space for the Federal Public Defenders and the U.S. Attorneys.

Current Status

June 16, 2025 is the anticipated opening date for the new federal courthouse at 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA, 50309. Any questions may be directed to the Clerk of Court’s office, at 515-284-6248.

Current progress on Des Moines U.S. Courthouse showcasing the front of the building, looking west.

Project details

Total authorized funding: $140,602,000 for site acquisition, design, construction, and related expenses                                   
Project delivery method: Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc)                                                                                         
Lead design architect: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects.

Awarded contracts

• Jacobs Technology (Construction Manager as Agent)
• Neumann Monson Architects ​(Design Architect of Record)
• Ryan Companies US, Inc. ​(Construction Manager as Constructor, CMc)

Final Environmental Assessment [PDF - 10 MB] (August 2018)