Robert A. Grant Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse

204 S. Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
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The four-story Robert A. Grant Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves the U.S. District Court and Court of Appeals. In 1992 the building was named after Robert Allen Grant, a local leader who served 35 years on the bench and 10 years in Congress.

Property managers: Jim Morrison (574-236-8276), Joshua Westhouse (219-852-2743)

Public hours: 7 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except federal holidays); enter on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets.

For building services and more information, see contacts above. For other federal government information, call toll-free 1-844-USA-GOV1.

Public parking and transportation

Public transportation is available from the South Bend TRANSPO  bus system. Ample parking is available on-site and in adjacent municipal parking garages and surface lots.

Key tenants

The courthouse is home to the U.S, District Courts, Court of Appeals, and U.S. Attorneys, Marshals Service, and Probation.

Building projects

In 2015 renovation of the exterior masonry was completed, restoring the beauty of the Indiana limestone and Vermont granite facade, as well as increasing the building’s longevity. Other recent projects include restoration of the first floor main lobby and copper roof and installation of 

• fire alarm and sprinkler systems
• an automated, energy-efficient heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system
• high-efficiency, low-water restroom fixtures.

Building amenities

Tenant amenities include exercise and shower rooms, an outdoor plaza, and bicycle parking.

Awards and certifications

The courthouse has received many awards, including ENERGY STAR®, Green Globes, both local and regional The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), and a BOMA 360 designation. The building has also received Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification in the Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) category. The courthouse has also been rated four green globes by the Green Building Initiative.

History and architecture 

Designed by the architectural firm of Austin & Shambleau in the Art Moderne and Art Deco styles, the Grant U.S. Courthouse was constructed in 1933. The exterior masonry walls of the building are faced with Indiana limestone and Vermont granite veneer. 

The historic elegance of the courthouse is truly found in its striking interior. The building includes a two-story, barrel-vaulted lobby (pictured left), decorated with marble flooring and walls, brass and art glass windows, ornately finished plaster ceilings, and refurbished chain-suspended chandeliers. The former postal lobby echoes the grandeur of the period – right down to original intricately-designed brass and glass postal tables restored to their natural beauty. 

A second architectural highlight of the courthouse is its dramatic, two-story courtroom, trimmed with walnut paneling (pictured right). The original roof over the courtroom is constructed of standing-seam copper. In 2008 new entrance doors - replicas of the original brass doors set in bronze frames with ornate windows and detail – were installed in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2009 renovation of the building’s two passenger elevators restored the interiors of their historic cabs and modernized their mechanical systems.