|
Component |
Current Status |
Recommendations |
Cost |
|
General Exterior |
Preston County Courthouse was undergoing restoration of the exterior stonework at the time of our visit (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5). The sandstone exterior is severely water damaged. This phase includes cleaning and sealing of the stone, and re-caulking of the joints but the exterior will need additional work. |
Continue to repair the exterior stonework. |
|
|
Exterior Walls |
The exterior of the building has a unique sand stone exterior, which is beautiful, but because of the absorptive nature of sandstone the exterior walls are in poor condition. Some of the stonework has been falling off and needs to be replaced. |
Repair and replace stonework |
$40,000 |
|
Roof |
We were unable to look at the roof because of the construction. There did not appear to be any leaks in the building caused by the roof. If the roof is over 20 years old it should be replaced. |
|
|
|
Windows and Doors |
Windows are bronze aluminum (P6). They are in good condition but could use a good cleaning and a re-bronzing of the aluminum. |
Clean and re-bronze aluminum windows. |
$14,400 |
|
Fire Safety |
The courthouse has a automatic fire alarm system with smoke detectors but lacks strobe lights. The annunciator panel looks dated and should be upgraded (P37). The building is not sprinkled. There are two stairways. One is enclosed by a glass wall and doors (P9, P10, P12, P15, P20). The other is an enclosed stair tower that exits directly out of the courtroom and clerks office (P20) |
Add any strobe lights to the fire alarm system and install horns and strobes in the restrooms. The doors on the interior stairs were propped open in violation of the fire code at the time of the visit. Make sure doors are left closed. No sprinkler required. |
$ 5,000 |
|
Compliance |
The accessible parking is in the back next to the cooling tower (P38). It is not properly marked with the accessible symbol. The path to the entrance door is not well marked. The accessible entrance is located on the ground floor it
was relatively easy to open with no obstructions (P8).
There is no There is a lift that allows accessibility to the upper floors (P13, P14). The basement toilets have plenty of room and meet most of
the |
Install signage for parking space. Install Install lever handles |
$ 100 $ 600 $ 4,500 |
Structure
|
There were no structural problems except those mentioned earlier on the exterior walls. |
|
|
|
Security |
The county received a grant to install solid wood doors into the courtroom, new video systems, new door hardware, and to add duress alarms and ballistic material for the family court and the magistrate court. |
The building still needs some additional security upgrades: 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. Install exterior lighting around the building |
$ 35,000 $ 10,000 $ 2,500 |
|
Electrical |
The courthouse is served by an 800A 277,408 transformer. The electrical service appears to be adequate for the building. Several panel boxes were inaccessible because of material stored in front of them; this is a violation of code and a fire hazard. |
Remove stored items that block access. |
|
|
Mechanical |
The mechanical system was evaluated by CMA engineering in October of this year. The report identifies the heating and cooling system as a two-pipe system with a gas fired boiler and a water-cooled chiller. The heated or chilled water is distributed throughout the building via fan coil units and air handlers. The report notes that the system is in poor condition because of the lack of chemical treatment in the distribution system. There is a potential of major leaks. The report recommends replacing the boiler, chiller, and coils in fan coil units and the air handler units because of possible contamination. |
A recent report by CMA Engineering recommended that the heating and cooling system be replaced. |
$500,000 |
|
Work Safety |
The loose stonework on the exterior of the building poses a hazard to anyone who is near the building. |
As noted above repair the stonework |
|
|
Space requirements |
The County is currently renting approximately 12,228 square feet of space and storage space for records is also needed. |
Build a new annex for the Court System Master and the Magistrates. 20,000 SF |
$3,000,000 |
|
Subtotal |
|
|
$3,612,100 |
|
Soft Costs |
Professional fees, permits, surveys, and studies |
20% |
722,420 |
|
Total |
|
|
$4,334,520 |