Mason
The courthouse was completed in 1956 and the jail was rebuilt in 1976. The courthouse is a four story stone structure of approximately 35,000 square feet. The overall condition of the courthouse is good with the exception of the roof and HVAC system. The leaks need to be repaired in the roof and the walls. The HVAC system functions, however, it does not meet current standards. A central HVAC system will reduce the amount of maintenance required and reduce the overall energy usage of the building.
There are reports and evidence of major leaks in the stairwells and some of the offices. It is difficult to tell if these leaks are from the roof or the façade. We recommend that the cracks in the walls be pointed and the exterior stone panels and openings be re-caulked.
We recommend repairing and/or replacing the roof, flashing and coping. The membrane is more than 15 years old, close to the end of its useful life. New walk pads to roof mounted equipment should be installed, and the roof mounted exercise area should be removed when the jail becomes vacated and the roof replaced.
The windows are aluminum with single glazing in good condition. We recommend that double pane windows be installed. This will prevent corrosion and other problems associated with condensation and increase the energy efficiency of the building.
There is handicap parking available at three different locations that are well labeled. The restrooms lack strobe lights on the fire alarms. We recommend installing fire alarms with strobe lights in the restrooms, installing signage throughout the building, and installing lever handles throughout the building.
The courtroom lacks fire alarms; therefore, we recommend installing horns and strobe lights in the courtroom. There is no sprinkler system in the building. The exit stairs are in good shape. We recommend that any storage under the exit stairs be removed. There is evidence of overloaded floors. Additional storage space would alleviate this problem.
The building contains a security system and closed circuit cameras. We recommend that 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. The door leading into the judge’s chamber should be made of solid wood and have an entry-control package, with the monitor at the secretary’s desk.
A 55 kw emergency generator has been added to feed the emergency load of both buildings. The automatic transfer switch is in the mechanical room of the annex, and it appears that normal power to these emergency circuits is fed from the annex service. In effect, certain circuits in the main building (primarily the jail), are not supplied through the main service disconnect of that building. This condition should be reported to the fire department, so that in an emergency they know where to go to disconnect power. We recommend that those electric panel boxes not up to code, as noted, be upgraded.
The Courthouse has a combination of HVAC systems. The exterior rooms have Packaged Through the Wall Heat Pumps (PTAC) to serve their heating and cooling needs. Interior spaces and the central corridors are supplied air from a central Air Handler unit. This is a split system air conditioning with electric duct resistance heating. The capacity is approximately 30 tons. We recommend that all the HVAC systems be redesigned and replaced at the earliest opportunity.
There is excessive amount of storage in the Mechanical Room that limits access to breaker boxes. An access way should be cleared to these boxes. Asbestos sealing is present in women’s restroom. We recommend that asbestos removal be completed.
Storage space is a problem. They hope that when the regional jail is in use they will be able to convert part of their jail space to storage. We recommend remodeling the annex building and connecting it to the main courthouse via a sky bridge.
The annex
building is in need of major upgrading.
The roof needs to be replaced, the exit stairs do not meet code, and it
will be difficult to bring the building into compliance with
The estimated total cost of repairs/replacements to both the courthouse and the annex is $2,265,300.