EYP/ Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kelly Donahue, Principal and PR Manager
EYP Architecture & Engineering
518.795.3925 or kdonahue@eypae.com
GSA SELECTS EYP TO MODERNIZE THEODORE LEVIN U.S. COURTHOUSE
January 29, 2015 – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a design services
contract to EYP Architecture & Engineering for the modernization and repair of the Theodore Levin
U.S. Courthouse located in Detroit, Mich. Constructed from 1932-1934, the 772,000-square-foot
historic facility is the home for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and a
number of other federal agencies.
“Being selected for such an important project is an honor and a tribute to the collaborative design
culture at EYP,” said Matthew Chalifoux, AIA, EYP’s Lead Project Designer. “This type of project is
a perfect combination of our skills in historic preservation, architectural design, and engineering.
Through similar projects we have learned that to successfully meet this challenge we will need to
develop a close working relationship with GSA, the building tenants, and the contractor.”
Designed by Robert O. Derrick, a local Detroit architect, the building is a representation of Derrick’s
interpretation of the Classical Modern Style. As such, the structure includes many classical design
elements, but also incorporates the verticality, simplicity, and streamlined quality typically associated
with Modern architecture. In 1994, the courthouse was renamed in honor of former presiding Judge
Theodore Levin, who served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1946
until his death in 1970. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 as a
contributing resource to the Detroit Financial Historic District.
Awarded under the GSA Design Excellence program, the project scope will include replacement of the
mechanical and electrical systems, life safety improvements, upgrades to the elevators and
modernization of the public restrooms. All of the work will be carefully developed to be sensitive to
EYP
Architecture & Engineering
NanoFab East / 257 Fuller Road – 1st Floor / Albany / NY 12203
T 518 795 3800 / eypae.com
EYP/ Press Release
the historic building and, where possible, to reclaim lost or damaged historic building fabric. The
design and construction will be planned to keep the building fully occupied and will include the design
and fit-out of swing space to accommodate staff during the multiple phases of construction.
The Theodore Levin Courthouse project is an example of GSA's continuing commitment to Design
Excellence. Formally created in 1994 GSA's Design Excellence Program was established to ensure that
federal architecture would be a source of pride in local communities, and to attract the best design
talent available for creating outstanding facilities to serve the American public. The programs
objectives focus on creating and preserving buildings that express the vision, leadership, and
commitment of the government to serving the public and the values of the nation.
EYP is a renowned global provider of high-performance building design, research, and consulting
services to higher education, government, healthcare, and corporate clients. Ranked #1 in sustainability
and fifth overall on Architect magazine’s prestigious Architect 50, the company provides seamless
project delivery with access to the award-winning expertise and resources of its family of practice
groups, which includes sustainable design leader EYP Architecture & Engineering; WHR Architects,
healthcare design specialists; and The Weidt Group, building energy performance specialists. More than
530 professionals in architecture, engineering, energy, and interior design collaborate across 15 offices
in the United States and Europe to deliver expertise-driven design. For more information, visit
http://eypaedesign.com/.
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EYP
Architecture & Engineering
NanoFab East / 257 Fuller Road – 1st Floor / Albany / NY 12203
T 518 795 3800 / eypae.com