First phase of renovations wrapping up at Courthouse
Miami County is wrapping up the first phase of the historic 1880s Courthouse’s interior renovations. The focus of work now underway is the grand courtroom on the building’s third floor. The first phase also included updates to the first floor, where a new security station was placed inside the east entrance.
Work in the building has moved forward while county government goes about its business daily, said county Commissioner Wade Westfall. “What a lot of folks always have to remember is this is a functioning government office building that happened to be built in 1885 when utilities and efficiency of materials, technology, wasn’t there,” he said.
The budget for the first phase was just over $2 million with a $247,570 contingency remaining. The general construction bids range from $968,000 to $1.15 million. Contractors were also asked to provide bids on possible alternate projects, including refinishing the stairs, renovating entry vestibules, and purchasing new light fixtures. Commissioners are expected to award a contract within the next couple of weeks for the phase two work, which will include second and third-floor remodeling and the replacement of the building’s more than 100 windows.
Courtroom work has included repairs and painting of walls by Brian Brothers of Piqua and decorative detail restoration mostly done by hand by Blanck Studios of Piqua.
“It turned out fantastic. The level of professionalism that Brian Brothers and Blanck brought … you look around and everything – the detail – just pops,” Westfall said.
Chairs used by courtroom guests for decades are being replaced with pew seating. The chairs were narrow, and repairs were difficult and expensive, Westfall said.
The courtroom furniture was refinished including the judges’ bench, witness stand and jury box original to the building. Work remaining in addition to installing new flooring and setting the pews includes a hard cleaning of the room, he said.
The commissioners are also exploring a project to highlight the county and courthouse history through a first-floor display. They met March 27 with representatives of a design company to discuss possible approaches to the project, including interactive displays. A committee will meet with consultants to discuss possibilities before concepts are developed for commissioners' consideration.