Johnson County supervisors received a design and schedule update Sept. 9 on the courthouse first-level renovation from Newman Monson Architects and county staff, who said the county remains under the existing project budget.

Melissa Roberts, special project manager, said the county is finishing up the current phase and preparing to move to the First Level South renovation. "We are wrapping up the current phase of the courthouse," Roberts said, noting carpet installation and punch-list work were underway. She said construction documents for the first-level work were at about 95% completion and had been in that state since September 2022.

Aliana Sabeno, project architect with Newman Monson Architects, walked supervisors through demolition and proposed floor plans. The plan calls for removing a raised floor in a central area and infilling with concrete, removing selected walls and glazing, and converting existing mechanical space into offices. The design would relocate mechanical elements and convert a so-called "bump-out" mechanical area into office space.

Sabeno said the right side of the plan would include an office for sheriffs and deputies with direct visibility to a secure west entrance; adjacent to that office are two holding cells with anti-ligature fixtures and one accessible holding cell. Sabeno said deputy and sheriff staff reviewed the cell dimensions and found them acceptable. The central area would become flexible multiuse space with a folding partition that can create one large area or two smaller spaces. Break rooms and public-facing casework and vending machine locations are included in the plan.

Newman Monson provided an opinion of construction cost: about $1,500,000 in direct construction cost, $153,000 contingency, and escalation factors, bringing the total estimated cost to approximately $1.7 million. Roberts told supervisors the county had budgeted $2,300,000 for the project and that, as presented, the estimate would be within the currently budgeted amount. The project schedule discussed calls for issuing bid documents in mid-October, a one-month bid period with bids due mid-November, and board consideration for award in mid-December.

Supervisors asked about ongoing water or roofing issues in parts of the courthouse; a county staff member said roofing issues related to the building’s age had been addressed. No formal action or vote was taken during the work session; architects and staff said they would return with a bid package and schedule moving forward.

Why it matters: the renovation changes courtroom adjacencies, provides holding facilities and staff workspaces, and advances ADA and site-improvement planning for the entire courthouse complex. The cost estimate and timeline inform the county’s budget and bidding schedule.

Background: Roberts said the county reconvened a stakeholder group—including the county attorney’s office, the sheriff’s office and the clerk of courts—to review the design and incorporate minor changes. Future phases described by Newman Monson include additional work on second and third floors, ADA upgrades and site improvements such as landscaping and parking.