The new federal courthouse in downtown Des Moines won’t be fully occupied until late summer, several months later than planned, a courthouse official told the Business Record.

The U.S. Marshals Service is behind schedule in making the building secure, said John Courter, clerk of court at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

“The perimeter security is up and running, but the marshals are behind schedule on the install of some other interior things,” Courter said. “The cellblock is not fully functional yet, and we’re still having to use hard copy keys rather than swipe cards.”

A few federal judicial divisions have relocated to the new courthouse at 101 Locust St., Courter said. Most, though, remain at the historic federal courthouse at 123 E. Walnut St., he said.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in August 2019 for the new federal courthouse that is replacing the 95-year-old structure. Originally, construction was expected to take three years to complete. The pandemic and supply chain disruptions delayed the project.

A news release by the U.S. General Services Administration in July 2021 noted that the new courthouse was expected to open in early 2023. Information on the GSA’s website now says occupancy is expected in June 2024, but U.S. Chief District Judge Stephanie Rose recently informed courthouse employees the move to the new courthouse has been delayed by several months, Courter said.

“We are hopeful that the delay is only a couple months, but at this point, we’re really waiting on the marshals to complete their work,” Courter said.

A temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued for the facility, Courter said.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa had occupied two buildings east of the Des Moines River: the current courthouse and an annex at 110 E. Court Ave. The GSA had leased space in the annex, which is privately owned. The lease recently expired, Courter said.

Several of the federal judicial divisions that had been located in the annex have moved into the new courthouse, Courter said. Among the divisions that are now in the new building are the bankruptcy court, probation services and court library.

The district court has cases that involve criminal defendants, many of whom are in custody, Courter said. “We need to have a functional cellblock.”

Hundreds of people are in the federal courthouse each week, nearly all of whom have some type of business with the U.S. District Court, Courter said. “The U.S. marshals can’t handle the influx of defendants that are in custody as well as the amount of people that go through the court at this time.”

Rose has touted state-of-the-art technology and security provisions that are planned in the new courthouse. It has been difficult to update technology and security measures in the existing courthouse because of its age, she has said.

The GSA announced in July 2017 that it planned on building the new courthouse on the 2-acre parcel on the west bank of the Des Moines River between Grand Avenue and Locust Street. The site originally was home to the Des Moines Coliseum and later the Riverfront YMCA. Congress authorized $140.6 million for the project, which included the purchase of the site, design, construction and other related expenses.

The new courthouse includes 13 judges’ chambers and nine courtrooms with enough space for family members, victims, the public and others to watch proceedings. The new courthouse includes underground parking, providing secure access for judges and others. The existing courthouse has five courtrooms. Parking for judges is on a nearby surface lot.

Ryan Cos., the project’s general contractor, has turned the building over to GSA, Courter said.

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