ST. LOUIS, MO — Tarlton Corp. received top honors at the 2025 Construction Keystone Awards Gala from the Associated General Contractors of Missouri for its two-year, $27.2 million renovation of The Old Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri.
Tarlton was recognized in the General Contractor/Construction Manager/Prime Contractor Building Construction $20 million to $100 million category. The project was jointly funded through a public-private partnership between the National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation. The renovation marks the final component of the $380 million CityArchRiver project, the largest public-private partnership in the history of the National Park Service.
Tarlton’s work at the Old Courthouse represents only the second major renovation in the building’s long and storied history, dating back to its construction from 1839 to 1862. Within its courtrooms, more than 300 enslaved individuals petitioned for their freedom — most notably Dred and Harriet Scott — and in 1872, suffragist Virginia Minor filed her landmark case for a woman’s right to vote.
While respecting and maintaining the integrity of the interior spaces, Tarlton created improved safety and public accessibility throughout the Old Courthouse. The building’s first elevator was installed, and the heating, air conditioning, and fire suppression systems were replaced to revitalize and maintain the building’s integrity. The team also created a scaffolding system for the installation of custom sprinkler heads at the top of the building’s 192-foot rotunda dome.
Throughout the renovation, the Old Courthouse revealed details of its unique history, including original wood trusses with plaster ceilings and brick barrel vaults supported by cast iron beams. Basement excavation uncovered a century-old brick structure still connected to historic drains, carefully documented by an onsite archaeologist and historic architect. As part of the renovation, the Tarlton team meticulously restored 150 window frames with new sashes, hardware and pulleys, refinished original wood floors, and safely removed asbestos and lead paint.
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“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the AGC of Missouri for Tarlton’s renovations to the Old Courthouse,” said Tracy Hart, Tarlton President. “Throughout the project, the Tarlton team was keenly aware of the significance of its work. The renovations will help preserve this important legacy for future generations and provide easier access for all to enjoy its rich history. We enjoyed our partnership with The National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation. During the project, we were able to bring in numerous groups from the community to share the history of the building and the complicated work taking place.”
