NATCHEZ &8212; The building being transformed into a federal courthouse is half complete, General Services Administration spokesman Gary Mote said Thursday.

Construction on the project, scheduled to be completed in February, is ongoing, Mote said.

&8220;The GSA is committed to restoring the taxpayers&8217; asset, returning this courthouse back to its original splendor and to enhance its functionality,&8221; Mote said.

The finished courthouse will include space for the U.S. Marshal Service as well as court space, he said.

The General Services Administration took charge of construction after the city completed its part in 2004.

Most of the exterior work is finished, leaving some interior electrical, mechanical and finishing work to be done.

Doors and hardware still have to be installed, too, Mote said.

The GSA has already finished interior framing, doorframes, drywall, stairs and an elevator.

The entry stair hall should be completed by mid-December, he said.

The 1850s building on Pearl Street has been used as a skating rink, opera hall, public library, museum and a teen canteen, among other things.

The GSA will continue filming a documentary on the courthouse this fall, Historic Preservation Specialist Jeffrey Jensen said.