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Federal Government Transfers Old Boise Federal Building To The State Of Idaho

July 13, 2004

Regional Administrator Jon Kvistad of the U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) hosted an official ceremony today to transfer ownership of the old Boise Federal Building, at no cost, to the State of Idaho. Joined by Federal and State leaders, Kvistad and Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne signed the ceremonial documents in the
building’s historic Courtroom to complete the transfer process before a celebratory crowd.

“The Borah Building has had a special home here in Idaho’s Capitol City for nearly a century. And we are especially proud to now have this historic facility for the official use and benefit of the State of Idaho and our citizens. We’re appreciative to the Bush Administration-GSA and to our Idaho Congressional delegation for making possible this most significant addition to our State Capitol Mall complex and grounds, “ Governor Kempthorne stated.”

This historic federal property, known locally as the “Borah Federal Building” (named after Idaho Senator William Borah who was instrumental in obtaining Federal dollars to enlarge the building), was constructed of Boise sandstone from a nearby local quarry and first opened in 1905. In 1976, the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the original architectural details remain, inside and out.

The old Boise Federal Building is part of a selected group of Federal buildings that have been studied extensively as part of the GSA Public Buildings Service’s portfolio restructuring strategy. This strategy was designed to enhance GSA’s long-term ability to provide quality and efficient workplaces for the agencies of the Federal government. This building was determined to be available for a local transfer option, and was placed into the GSA’s property disposal process.

U.S. General Services Administration
400 15th Street SW
Auburn, WA 98001

www.gsa.gov
GSA Media Release

Upon being listed by the GSA as available for transfer, the State of Idaho filed an application to obtain the property. As the building is listed on the Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service needed to both review the State’s plans for maintaining the historic integrity of the building and approve the application. Both of these tasks were successfully accomplished.

Kvistad explained to the audience that this is a no cost public benefit transfer of the entire building to the State of Idaho. He added that in addition to getting ownership, the State receives an additional benefit - paying tenants – as to facilitate the ongoing needs of current Federal agency tenants in the building, the GSA executed a lease with the
State to provide them with office and other use space, thus allowing them to continue delivery of their programs and services.

According to Kvistad, this GSA building transfer is a situation in which everyone wins. He said, “The State of Idaho wins – with new ownership of a historic building at no cost for the transfer and with paying tenants. The citizens of Idaho win – with addition of a new performing State asset added to the historic Boise Capital Area District. The Federal government wins – it can now concentrate real estate management resources in a more efficient fashion. And the American taxpayer wins – our Federal agencies, operating out of new leased space suited to modern day needs, will be more effective in delivering services.”

Kvistad concluded the ceremony by presenting Governor Kempthorne with a ceremonial key to the State of Idaho’s newest building.

The U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) is a centralized federal procurement, property management, and policy agency created by Congress to improve government efficiency and help federal agencies better serve the public. It acquires, on behalf of federal agencies, office space, equipment, telecommunications, information technology, supplies and services. It also plays a key role in developing and implementing government-wide policies. GSA’s 13,000 associates provide services and solutions for the office operations of over one million federal workers located in more than 8,000 government-owned and leased buildings in 2,000 U.S. communities.

GSA’s Northwest / Arctic Region, headquartered in Auburn, Washington, serves customers in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It also provides assistance to small and minority businesses that wish to transact commerce with the Federal government. Jon Kvistad, a fifth generation Oregonian, currently serves as the Regional Administrator.