Aspinall federal building in Grand Junction gets an energy overhaul

The 95-year-old Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Grand Junction will be rededicated Wednesday after a 23-month renovation to make the historic building energy-efficient and sustainable. The goal of the U.S. General Services Administration's $15 million project was to not only preserve the anchor of the Grand Junction community, but also to convert it into a facility that produces as much energy as it consumes. It would be the first net-zero energy building among the 478 historic buildings managed nationally by the GSA, and it is designed to achieve LEED Platinum status. The three-story building, built in 1918, originally functioned as a post office and courthouse. A large extension was added in 1939, and the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It currently houses nine federal agencies. The modernization includes installation of 385 solar panels on the roof, as well as a geothermal system of wells and pipes that rely on the constant temperature of the ground in order to heat and cool the building. A private, formal rededication ceremony will be held Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m., followed by a public open house and self-guided tours at 4 p.m. The building is named after Wayne Aspinall, who served from 1949-73 in the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th District. The project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.