Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse

Project Scope: Site construction and foundation
Owner: General Services Administration (GSA)
Location: 555 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Project Delivery: Site Construction & Foundation

Penzel Construction was invited to be part of the design-build team that included general contractor and construction manager PCL Construction Services, Inc. and Fentress Bradburn Architects. On this three-acre site, Penzel Construction provided a wide array of heavy construction services, including all dirt work, foundations, drilled piers, and concrete. Penzel constructed 170 concrete piers, which are socketed into solid bedrock at depths of up to 65 feet, making the building able to withstand a significant seismic event.

There were significant challenges with this project as the site was a “brownfield” site, requiring major clean-up and incineration of dirt. There were also known caverns and a slave tunnel below ground, and excess water made it difficult to work this LEED Silver project site.

In an effort to help secure the project, Penzel CEO Phil Penzel was instrumental in presenting the plan to the panel of judges in St. Louis that included United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr.