Commission approves aluminum window replacement for Miami County Courthouse

The Troy Planning Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness on Jan. 22, 2025 allowing replacement of about 100 windows at the Miami County Courthouse, 215 West Main Street, with custom-profile aluminum windows designed to match the building’s existing proportions.

Michael Clary, Chief Administrative Officer with the Miami County Commissioner's Office, said the courthouse is an active government building and the county proposed aluminum-frame windows that replicate original profiles to improve energy performance, occupant comfort and maintenance costs. Clary told the commission that most of the existing windows are rotted or warped and “all but 10 are not functioning.” He said the replacement windows would include energy-efficient glazing, tempered glass on upper floors and low-iron laminate security glass where needed on the first floor to meet security needs.

Clary said the county estimates the aluminum replacement option will cost about $1,600,000; he contrasted that with a wood-to-wood replacement he said would be roughly $3,000,000. The project is part of an approximately $4,500,000 renovation; the majority of the work is interior and the window replacements are described as Phase 2 of the effort.

Staff recommended approval, noting that replacement windows would match sash depth and mullion patterns though the material would differ from historic wood. Commissioners discussed Secretary of the Interior guidance and precedent from other nearby courthouse projects; staff and the applicant said contemporary fabrication can closely replicate original appearance while improving durability.

A motion to approve the COA passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. The approval allows the county to proceed to bidding and permitting for the window replacement under the conditions presented to the commission.