Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, Port Huron
526 Water Street
Port Huron, MI 48060
Constructed in 1877, the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Port Huron, Mich., is the oldest building in GSA's Great Lakes Region portfolio. It is a Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Outstanding Building of the Year Award winner in the 100,000 Square Foot and Under category for overall building and management quality, and it is ENERGY STAR® certified.
The latest GSA/Gallup Tenant Satisfaction Survey, conducted in spring 2012, indicated 100% of tenants are more than satisfied (rating of four or above on a five-point scale) with the building and GSA's services.
The building is located in downtown Port Huron on Water Street between Sixth Street and Huron Avenue, a short drive from I-94 and I-96 and within walking distance of restaurants, shops and marinas.
Property Manager: Steve Ernest
For building services and information, contact the Michigan Service Center using the contact information provided at the upper right.
Building Hours and Access The building is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except federal holidays). The main entrance is on Water Street, but a ramp is also available on the east side of the building. All visitors must submit to security screening and present a valid identity card, such as a state driver's license or Federal ID, before entering the building. Cell phones, cameras and recording devices are prohibited.
Parking and Public Transportation Parking is available around the building and in nearby surface lots; un-metered parking is generally to the east of the Federal Building, with metered to the west.
Blue Water Area Transit serves the Port Huron area and has routes close to the Federal Building.
Building Amenities The Blue Water Federal Credit Union is located on the first floor. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
History and Architectural Features Designed by Alfred B. Mullett, best known for designing the San Francisco Mint, this 44,397 square foot facility was constructed at an original cost of $200,000 to house the U.S. Post Office, U.S. Customs and the courts. Its unique features include an octagonal cupola and simplified Corinthian capitals, characteristic of the Renaissance and Greek Revival styles. It originally featured gas chandeliers and 17 Vermont red marble fireplaces.
In 2008, the lobby of this historic building was restored to its original grandeur. The renovation included uncovering the 17-foot ornamental plaster ceiling, recreating the mahogany postal wall, installing historically accurate doors and pendant light fixtures and restoring wood window frames.
Other recent improvements include a heating and ventilating system upgrade, boiler system replacement, energy management controls, fire alarm installation, exterior masonry repairs to the original sandstone block and facade, restoration of the third floor public corridor and construction of additional U.S. District Court jury rooms and assembly space.
Port Huron's Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is one of more than a hundred properties featured in the Public Buildings Service Heritage Program. This program details more than 150 years of notable construction through an award-winning series of posters and brochures, and its Web pages explain the architecture and history of each featured building.
The shortcut for this page is www.gsa.gov/pthuronfb.
