John Jarvey, chief district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, “jokingly called it the ‘White House’ so we named the different conference rooms after rooms at the White House,” Thomason said.

Construction of the house began last August shortly before a groundbreaking for the $136.6 million project. The house was framed with two-by-fours that were screwed together. Drywall was also screwed on rather than nailed, Thomason said.

“Everything will get repurposed after the project is done,” he said. That includes furnaces, water heaters and plumbing fixtures.

Ryan Cos. oversaw the construction of the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids on a site that also didn’t have space for modular trailers. At that site, a one-story building was constructed that included meeting rooms, offices and break rooms. When construction was nearing completion, the house was dismantled and parts donated to the local Habitat for Humanity.

Parts of the Des Moines “White House” will be donated to the local Habitat for Humanity, Thomason said.

About 25 people work out of the Des Moines construction house, including field managers and supervisors for Ryan Cos. and the project management team.

The U.S. General Services Administration also has offices in the house, which includes five conference rooms, a break room and offices.

Construction of the federal courthouse is expected to be completed in fall 2022.