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Component |
Current Status |
Recommendations |
Cost |
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General Exterior |
The cornerstone of the original courthouse dates 1899 (P1, P2, P3). The annex (attached to the courthouse) and jail (on the grounds) were both built in 1939. The courthouse building is in generally good condition, with some minor problems, with the possible exception of the windows. The courthouse building is approximately 100-120,000 square feet, three stories, with basement, clock tower, and domes (P5, P6, P7, P8). |
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Exterior Walls |
The foundation of the courthouse is stone, the annex and jail are concrete. There is some evidence of settlement on the steps leading to the main entry and the sidewalk at the front right corner of the left wing (P9, P10, P11). The exterior walls are stone with no evidence of cracking except for a minor crack near the rear entrance. Moss and mold are present and water damage is evident in the spalling of the stone. The mortar is in fair condition, with some being worn away and crumbling at the entry stairs. |
Courthouse Masonry Cleaning We recommend that after the stone has been cleaned by an acceptable method it should be sealed with a clear sealer to prevent further damage to the stone. The damage at the entry stairs should be repaired. Repair the sidewalk |
$230,000 $ 35,000 $ 10,000 $ 5,000 |
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Roof |
The roof is a cross between pitched slope and low/no slope, with towers and domes. Parts of the roof are original, but other areas have been repaired or replaced on unknown date(s). The roof materials are rubber membrane (EPDM) and copper/gold gilding on the domes. The roof suffers from damaged flashing, bubbles in the membrane, lack of walk pads to roof top equipment, and ponding of water. There are 5-6 known roof leaks. |
We recommend the roof be repaired and replaced as needed. Removal and replacement of EPDM roof and add insulation and walk pads, repair flashing. |
$130,000 |
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Windows and Doors |
The windows are aluminum frame, single pane, double sash. The windows were replaced on an unknown date. There is evidence of damage caused by the windows. Condensate collecting between the inner and outer sashes is causing plaster damage at the jambs, bowing and rusting spandrel panels (P12) and some missing/damaged caulking. The outer doors are aluminum/glass and are generally in good condition. |
Replace the windows with aluminum thermal break double pane windows and restore the historic look of the building, |
$300,000 |
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Fire Safety |
The building contains lighted exit signs, some of which are misleading or not visible from. The building does not contain a sprinkler system or whole building fire alarm system, and only some battery operated emergency lights. There is one enclosed fire exit stair, but the fire doors were wedged open. This stair contained emergency lighting. The stairs did not explicitly exit out side or to onto the first floor where the direct exit was located. It was possible to continue into the basement, where the only exit was through a locked room. The building contains a monumental stair in the center rotunda. These stairs are winders and are open to each floor except the basement with no fire enclosure. There is storage under the stairs. The exit doors did swing in the direction of the exit. The rooms able to hold more than fifty people (i.e. courtrooms) did not have two properly spaced exits. In one case, one exit door was locked; in another, a bench blocked the exit. Panic hardware did exist on the fire stair, but not completely throughout the exit path. |
We recommend that a new enclosed fire stairway be built between the Jail and the courthouse. Install wet pipe sprinkler system Install a new fire alarm system Updated exit lighting Separate the second floor hall from the rotunda and stairs with fire rated wall and doors. Remodel courtrooms to provide secondary exits |
See space needs below $ 70,000 $ 25,000 $ 8,000 $ 5,000 $ 10,000 |
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There are two accessible parking spaces, 5 x 16. The accessible symbol is painted on the sidewalk instead of the pavement and there are handicap signs, but they do not warn of state fine for illegal parking. The sidewalk is sloped to the parking spots. A 3 wide walk extends to the accessible entrance, but exceeds a 1/20 slope for a short distance. The ramp to accessible doorway is at least 3 wide, has a maximum slope of 1/12, and has handrails, but they do not extend 1 beyond ramp at top and bottom. There is a 4 x 5 level space in front of the entrance door. There are no signs inside building with raised letters or Braille. There are no fire alarms or strobe lights. Public accessible rooms were not equipped with lever handles. There is elevator access to all floors, with Braille lettering on the control panel. There is a handicap accessible bathroom on the second floor (P65, P66) but the hot water line and drainpipe on the sink are not insulated, there is no fire alarm or strobe light in the bathroom and the grab bars are not to spec. Because this is a historic structure we recommend that a unisex accessible toilet be installed on each floor or at the least on the main entry level. Provide accessible Witness stand and Judges bench in at least one courtroom. |
Install new Install lever handle hardware in the public spaces Complete Install Witness stand/Judges bench lift |
$ 6,000 $45,000 $20,000 $18,000 |
Structure
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There is some cracking in the floor on the inside of the building. Under the rotunda, on the main and second floors, are radial cracks. They appear to be old and unchanging. |
No action required at this time. If any additional movement is observed a structural engineer should be called in to conduct a study. |
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Security |
There are several unattended entrance doors, including the front main doors. The basement entrance, which is also the accessible entrance, leading to the magistrate courts, is staffed with a guard and a newly installed walk-through metal detector (P18). There are security lights surrounding the building, but it was unclear in the daytime whether they actually work. The entrance to the jail was monitored by security cameras. |
The facility should have an entry-level screening using the existing walk-through metal detector and an x-ray machine. All perimeter exit doors should be secured by installing an audible alarm, magnetic contacts, and a crash bar. CCTV system should be installed throughout the building. Security Console |
$40,000 $10,000 $3,750 $40,000 |
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Electrical |
The main electrical service came into the mechanical room and into a Square D service box, 3 phase/4 wire, 120/208 V, 2000 A, model 41-47154-3. The room also contains disconnect boxes, with 2 - 600 A, 2 400 A, 1 225 A, 1 200 A, breakers. Other junction boxes were located throughout the building. The building had no emergency generator. The interior lighting was mostly fluorescent, with several incandescent bulbs scattered throughout the building. The lighting was adequate. |
The electrical service appears adequate to serve the building. |
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Mechanical |
The furnace for the building was a 9 unit pulse fired Hydrotherm system, model M-300, around 12 years old, in good condition (P26, P27). There are two pumps, Bell & Gossett model 1510 2.5 BB, same age as the boilers (P24, P28). Cooling is handled through a myriad of systems. The building contains rooftop condensers, rooftop units, interior air handlers, and ground located heat pumps. Several rooftop units were in disuse. The air handler equipment was mostly 15 or more years old. Ductwork often ran through halls or uncovered ceilings. Some rooms were described as hard to heat, and at least one contained two baseboard heaters. One ground/basement level room is serviced by two Fujitsu split ductless systems. See Chart at end of Detail Report. |
The heating system is only 12 years old and is in good condition. Upgrade the AC system to provide better air conditioning system and to provide more even ventilation and cooling. A central chiller system is recommended. |
$1,700,000 |
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Work Safety |
9x9 tile is located in several rooms which may indicate the presence of asbestos. The maintenance supervisor commented that partial asbestos removal had occurred, but he did not know the extent or locations of all the work. A court report may be available documenting their work. |
A new study should be done to determine the amount of asbestos remaining in the building and the cost of remediation. |
$ 5,000 |
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Space Requirements |
The courthouse is functioning but it does not provide enough space for all of the county functions. The corridors for the prosecuting attorneys office are too tight, records are being stored off site in two other locations. A 1996 study recommended that the old jail building be renovated and attached to the existing courthouse providing a new accessible secure entrance and additional office and storage space. |
According to the 1996 report the jail building is to be gutted and remodeled into a prisoner detention area, county extension office, museum, adult probation, and a prosecuting attorneys office. It also proposes a new connector between the two buildings to contain storage, a new secure/accessible entrance, and Juvenile probation office. The study also recommends remodeling of the existing courthouse to bring it into current standards. Cost for the proposed renovations. |
$11,000,000 |
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Subtotal Cost |
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$13,715,750 |
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Soft Costs |
Professional fees, permits, surveys, and studies |
20% |
$2,743,150 |
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Total |
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$16,458,900 |