Cowlitz County hears $1.2M plan to replace Hall of Justice ceilings and lights, but questions remain

Cowlitz County officials heard details Thursday about a Millig proposal to modernize lighting and ceilings at the Hall of Justice, a project the contractor estimates will cost about $1.2 million and add roughly a month to construction if the lighting scope is included.

The presentation, led by Lauren of Millig and introduced by Savannah Clement, deputy director of public services, described replacing ceilings and fixtures on the basement, first and second floors, installing new LED fixtures where ceilings are replaced and performing tube retrofits where ceilings remain. Lauren said the turnkey price from Millig is about $1,213,000, with an anticipated utility incentive of roughly $30,000–$35,000 and estimated annual utility and maintenance savings of about $34,000.

The proposal matters because it combines safety, seismic and energy improvements into a single scope. The contractor told the board that the building’s atypical ceiling grid (original construction from 1974) holds many retrofit complications: unusual long grid pieces, custom ceiling diffusers and electrical/security wiring that has been routed above the ceiling…