COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE : Court Renovation

The George Hyman Construction Co.’s Irvine office will manage the renovation of the U.S. Court of Appeals in downtown San Francisco, under a recently awarded $53.8-million contract. The 88-year-old building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and survived the city’s big earthquake of 1906. But it was so seriously damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake that is was closed.

“Renovation was the only option, since we couldn’t even build this building today,” said Jim Hampel, senior project manager for Hyman Construction in Irvine. Renovation will include removing and refurbishing 500 wood-framed windows, and restoration of the building’s five courtrooms and its library areas with ornate bookcases featuring cherry, mahogany and walnut finishes.