Mercer County Courthouse Detail Report

 

Component

Current Status

Recommendations

Cost

General Exterior

The building was originally constructed in the 1930s.  It is a two-story building with a basement and an attic (P19, P36, P37, P64, P65).  The foundation is concrete and there is no evidence of settlement. 

 

There is a detached annex on site. 

 

 

Exterior Walls

There is evidence of exterior damage from water. 

There is also mold and moss on the walls.

Clean and repair stone

$20,000

Roof

The roof is a combination of low sloped and pitched original (P62, P63).  Overall, the roof is in good condition with no known leaks.  The roof appears to be a rubber membrane and not original to the building. There is a pigeon problem causing a mess on the exterior walls and roof.

 

 

 

 

 

Install pigeon deterrent

 

 

 

 

 

$5,000

Windows and Doors

The windows are single glazed and steel.  They are original and show evidence of corrosion and rust, and the caulking is old and/or missing (P77).  The doors are made of wood.  The door hardware is functioning and there is panic hardware on the exit doors.

Install new windows

$60,000

Fire Safety

There are fire alarms (P42), exit lights, emergency lights and two ways out of each floor.  The stairs are not enclosed by fire rated walls or doors.  The stairs and exits are not blocked.  There is no storage under the stairs.  The exit doors swing in the direction of the exit.  There are two ways out of each room that serves more than 50 people.  There is panic hardware on all the exit doors.

Install firewalls and fire doors

$5,000

ADA

Compliance

ADA – The sidewalk needs fixed.  There is a 3” curb restricting access.  There is street parking with accessible symbol painted on pavement and a sign.  There is a ramp that leads to the sidewalk with a maximum slope of 1/12.  The entrance door is al least 3’ wide and the door is easy to open.  The signage inside has raised letters.  The fire alarm has a horn.  The doors in public areas do not have lever handles.  There is not one bathroom per floor that is accessible. 

 

There is a 36” entry door, the toilet seat is 17” to 19” above the floor (P49).  The rim of the urinal is 17” above the floor, and there is 27” clearance (P60) under the sink.  The drain and hot water lines are not insulated.  There is no fire alarm or strobe in the bathroom.

 

NOTE: cost for ADA compliance for courthouse in 1993 $189,751.10 from E. T. Boggess.

 

There is an elevator with a 3’ door.

ADA renovations with 10 year cost inflation correction.

$255,000

Structure

 

The foundation is concrete and there are some cracks visible.  The wall structure is concrete with some block (P84) and has some cracks (P47).  There is a crack in the courtroom floor. (P20, P21)

The crack appears to be old and unchanging.  If continued movement occurs, have the situation studies by a structural engineer.

 

Security

Implement the recommendations from the Supreme Court of Appeals Security Audit Report.

The building should be equipped for limited to access and security upgraded by installing:

     Entry-level screening with an X-ray machine and walk through metal detector.

 

     All other doors should be protected with a card access system

    

Exit doors except the main entrance should be protected with audible alarms, magnetic contacts and crash bars.

 

    Extend the CCTV system throughout the secure areas of the courthouse.

 

Duress alarms should be installed beneath the judge’s desk, secretary’s desk, judge’s bench in the courtroom, hearing table in the jury room, and the clerk’s desk. The family court should be provided with duress alarms. Two duress alarms should be installed, one beneath. the front counter and one beneath an office desk. Duress alarms should be installed beneath the magistrates’ desks magistrates’ assistants’ desks, and the bench in the courtroom.

 

The judge’s bench and clerk’s desk should be protected on the front and sides that have public exposure with ballistic material.

 

All light switches should be replaced with key-controlled switches, and breaker boxes should be locked.

 

 

 

 

$40,000

 

 

$9,000

 

 

$6,000

 

 

$15,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$2,200

 

 

 

$1,500

 

 

$300

Electrical

 

The courthouse needs electrical upgrades to include rewiring of building. The building has fluorescent lighting, and it appears adequate.  Electrical pics: P1, P12, P14, P17, P24, P94

 

 

Upgrade the electrical service

$240,000

Mechanical

The building has a two-pipe hydronic system heated by a old coal fired boiler that has been converted to burn natural gas.  A Baltimore Aircoil cooling tower provides the cooling.  Several packaged terminal air conditioning unit with hydronic coils and some are self-contained heat pumps.  There is a roof top York air handler for the upper floors.  Mechanical pics: P10, P11, P57, P79, P90

 

 

Work Safety

No problems noted.

 

 

Space requirements

There are space constraints and inadequate Judicial spaces for the magistrates and Family Court.

 

More storage space is needed by all occupants

A new Judicial annex 40,000 sq ft

 

 

New storage Building 5,000 sq. ft.

$7,000,000

 

 

$300,000

Subtotal

 

 

$7,959,000

Soft Costs

Professional fees, permits, surveys, and studies

20%

1,591,800

Total

 

 

$9,550,800

 

 

 

Mercer Index Page