'New' federal courthouse might not outlast neighbors

The next time someone argues that buildings aren't built as well as they used to be, the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse in downtown Tampa could be pointed to as an example.

The 17-story structure at 801 N. Florida Ave., which opened in 1998 amid several historic buildings (including the vacated 1905 federal courthouse a few blocks down), has had various problems over the years, from a leaky roof and mold problems to elevator trouble and judges' benches that were too low. Now comes the latest problem — window frames that were supposedly installed backward, letting water in instead of keeping it out.

U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr., who leads the courthouse's facilities committee, says it may cost at least $20 million to fix the problem. The big question here is how the General Services Administration, landlord of federal buildings, and its general contractor could let this sort of thing happen.

Bethesda, Md.-based Clark Construction Group LLC, which has vast experience with government buildings, isn't taking all the blame. Clark issued a statement last week saying before the courthouse opened, “GSA and the architect conducted thorough inspections, determined the project was complete and accepted it for occupancy.”

The Gibbons courthouse, named in honor of the longtime Tampa congressman, towers above other nearby buildings dating to the early 20th century that are said to have solid “bones” despite being dormant for decades. That includes the 19-story Hotel Floridan, currently undergoing restoration on the next block north.

No one can be certain that the “new” courthouse, which cost $85 million to build, will even last as long. Something to think about as you prepare your federal income tax returns.