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GSA Awards $2.29 Million Contract for Edward T. Gignoux Courthouse Renovation to Laconia, N.H. Small Business

BOSTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has awarded a locally-based small business a $2.29 million Design Excellence Architect-Engineer Service contract for HVAC and fire alarm replacement at the historic Edward T. Gignoux Courthouse in Portland, Maine.

Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering (RFS) of Laconia, N.H. will be responsible for the design service and Post Contract Construction Service (PCCS) for this project. The company, started in 1992 by Bruce Shumway, has extensive experience performing Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing as well as Fire Protection (MEP/FP) work within sensitive historic contexts.

Estimated completion for the project is late 2025.

This project will:

  • Help reduce building energy consumption through the installation of more efficient air handling units and modifications to the existing system. 
  • Improve system efficiency throughout the building by upgrading the Building Automation System (BAS).
  • Enhance building security and indoor air quality (IAQ) through the relocation of the fresh air intakes.
  • Enhance building safety by replacing the fire alarm system to meet the current codes and standards.

The Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse, located in downtown Portland, Maine, is a classic Italian Renaissance Revival style building entirely faced with New England granite. The courthouse occupies the southwestern half of the lot bounded on the northwest by Federal Street, the northeast by Pearl Street, the southeast by Newbury Street, and the southwest by Market Street. In 1988, it was named after Edward Thaxter Gignoux, a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine from 1957-1988.

GSA’s New England Region provides centralized procurement for the federal government by managing its real estate portfolio, real estate property utilization and disposal, products and services throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government. For more information, visit: www.gsa.gov/r1 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About GSA: 
GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.