History of the BEP

In 1985, the Treasury Department authorized the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to begin the search for a site west of the Mississippi River to produce currency. This was intended to reduce the transportation costs of currency to the Federal Reserve Banks in San Francisco, California, Dallas, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri, to accommodate the need for additional currency to be produced and to implement additional security and emergency preparedness. Eighty-three cities submitted proposals and eleven cities continued until the next cut where four cities made the final round. In November of 1986, the city chosen to host the Western Currency Facility was Fort Worth, Texas.

Started in 1987, the site preparation, internal roads, water supply, building shell and Federal Reserve vault were constructed by the City of Fort Worth, with the architectural engineering firm of Kirk, Voich and Gist being the supervising architect. The State of Texas contributed to the project with major road improvements, and Texas Utilities extended electrical services several miles.

Kirk, Voich and Gist produced a design for the building, which includes a unique glass atrium representing the pyramid on the one-dollar note. The Army Corp of Engineers served as the Bureau’s representative for architectural and engineering design review, contracting officer and construction manager. The prime construction contractor for the completion of the facility was Clearwater Construction, Inc.