Performance Contracting
The General Services Administration’s (GSA) U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, faced the failure of its aging boiler system, leaving the facility dependent on expensive temporary rental boilers. To address this critical issue, CMTA was selected to execute a comprehensive design and construction renovation of the facility’s steam plant. The project’s scope centered on replacing the courthouse’s outdated 1983 steam boilers with advanced natural gas-fired units, each exceeding 3,000 MBH capacity, vastly improving the building’s heating reliability and operational redundancy.
The turnkey solution encompassed full MEP design and construction services, including the installation of a new feedwater system, modern direct digital controls, branch isolation, condensate receivers, LED lighting upgrades, and comprehensive asbestos abatement of the steam plant. Early in the project, the scope expanded when GSA requested a transition from the planned electric modular boilers to natural gas-fired equipment. Heightening the project’s urgency, it was imperative to complete the new plant before the heating season to eliminate further expenses. CMTA quickly responded, redesigning key elements to incorporate a combustion air system, carbon monoxide detection, a fabricated flue header, and other required modifications—all without altering the project’s fast-paced schedule.
The project team faced unique challenges, including delayed Notice to Proceed approval, strict noise control requirements to avoid disrupting court sessions, and limited material movement windows coordinated with U.S. Federal Marshals. These complexities were compounded by the Federal Government shutdown of 2025—the longest in history. Despite these constraints, CMTA planned and executed the renovation ahead of schedule, ensuring the courthouse transitioned seamlessly into the heating season with a reliable and fully modernized steam plant.
This project marked a critical milestone as CMTA’s first engagement with the Federal Government in a combined role as both Designer and Builder. By aligning innovative design with precise execution, this project exemplifies CMTA’s ability to deliver mission-critical solutions under demanding circumstances.
