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Deschutes County courthouse expansion reaches Level 2 pour; project stays on track amid change orders
Summary
County facilities staff and the project contractor reported that Level 2 concrete was poured, the project is roughly 40–45% complete, and change orders totaling about $524,000 were approved — including $360,000 for courtroom audio‑visual equipment funded by state FFNE funds and roughly $130,000 to reroof the 2004 addition.
Deschutes County facilities staff gave the Board of Commissioners a monthly update on the courthouse expansion on June 23, reporting recent structural work, the near-term schedule and contract changes.
Eric Nielsen, capital improvements manager for County Facilities, said crews completed the Level 1 deck and poured the Level 2 deck over the weekend after weekend formwork and post-tension tendon placement. "They poured that. They pushed it to Saturday. There's a little bit more favorable weather. So the board, I believe, starting at 4 and finish around the day," Nielsen said, describing last week’s weekend pour and third‑party inspection.
Corey (contract representative) said the contractor expects the structure to top out in August and estimated the physical construction stage is about 40–45% complete. "The next couple of months is gonna be rinse and repeat," he said, adding that exterior framing and roof work will begin as crews move up the structure and prepare for fall and winter work. County staff said the CLT (cross‑laminated timber) panels for the main entry will arrive in September.
On costs and contract changes, staff reported three change orders adding approximately $524,000 to the prime contractor’s contract. The largest was a $360,000 change order for audio‑visual equipment in two new courtrooms and the hearing room; staff said that amount comes from state FFNE funds that the state transferred to the county specifically for courtroom AV. Nielsen said the county is finalizing an intergovernmental agreement with the state to cover AV in the existing courtrooms. Another change order of roughly $130,000 covers the reroof of the 2004 portion of the courthouse; staff said that work will be funded from the county’s maintenance fund so the finished expansion and the 2004 roof will have a single warranty.
Budget and schedule: staff said level‑by‑level concrete and post‑tensioning activities are moving rapidly and that the contractor found favorable bid pricing on several subcontract packages. The project team said they had previously rebid some packages and received more competitive bids than earlier rounds. Nielsen said overall construction duration is now beyond the midpoint but estimated physical construction completion is about 40–45%.
Why it matters: the county said progressing the structure through summer will put the project on track to enclose the building for fall work. County staff said they will return to the board as needed with contract items or project changes and will continue coordination with the board on schedule and budget impacts.
