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Deschutes County outlines courthouse expansion, downtown campus parking and residential-care projects
Summary
County facilities staff briefed commissioners on completed projects, the courthouse expansion timeline and budget, a downtown campus parking project now out to bid, and plans to buy and remodel homes for adult foster care.
Lee Randall, a facilities instructor with Deschutes County, and Eric Nielsen, capital improvement manager, told the Board of County Commissioners on April 21 that the county’s capital improvement program (CIP) is entering an active construction phase ahead of the FY 2026 budget cycle.
The presentation covered services provided by the CIP team, recent completions, projects currently under way, and planned work. Randall and Nielsen emphasized work already finished — including a parole and probation expansion (an 8,300-square-foot two‑story addition completed in April 2023) and North County building remodels completed late in 2023 — and described active projects such as courthouse expansion and campus parking improvements.
The courthouse expansion remains on schedule for substantial structural milestones this summer, Nielsen said, with the basement slab scheduled for May and a roof deck pour targeted for August. The project’s planned completion date is August 2026; the team included an updated budget in the packet provided to commissioners. Nielsen said construction sequencing will require coordination with city projects and noted land-acquisition work that county staff expect to complete next year.
The downtown campus parking project, developed after a parking study tied to the courthouse expansion, is out to bid for general contractors. Staff said the study found that overall capacity exists but that parking is not well distributed near public entrances. The project aims to improve pedestrian safety and create closer parking adjacent to public entrances; a bid opening is scheduled for May 15, with construction planned to begin after July 1, pending award.
Randall and Nielsen also described facilities projects intended to increase energy efficiency and occupant comfort. A Wyeth Building exterior wall repair and replacement of nearly all exterior windows was completed, and staff reported occupants already notice fewer drafts and improved thermal performance. The juvenile services day room remodel and other minor projects were also highlighted as completed or near completion.
On the public‑health side, the county has purchased at least one house that will be remodeled for residential adult foster care. The home is intended to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co‑occurring behavioral-health needs; staff said a design team will be selected soon and that budgeted funds exist for the remodel. Nielsen said the county hopes to purchase an additional house depending on the FY 2026 budget.
Nielsen described parts of the courthouse improvements package that are budgeted for design and permitting in FY 2026 and noted concurrent work to identify seismic upgrades to the old courthouse (original construction: 1940). The design team has taken core samples and used radar scans to evaluate rebar spacing and concrete compressive strength; engineers recommended a set of targeted seismic upgrades intended to meet a life‑safety goal rather than fully retrofit the building to modern school or hospital standards. Nielsen said upgrades will be designed, cost‑estimated and prioritized to fit the available budget.
Commissioners asked about timing for public‑safety campus follow‑ups; staff said they expect several months of work to revisit priorities with the sheriff’s office and determine near‑term projects. Staff also reminded the board that some campus planning — including a downtown campus plan request for proposals — will be coordinated with city partners and presented at an upcoming joint meeting.
The presentation served as a high‑level CIP update intended to inform budget planning; staff said they would return with more detailed budget requests in the FY 2026 process.
Looking ahead, staff listed a series of planning efforts (public safety campus planning, a downtown campus plan and potential material‑recycling/composting facilities tied to solid‑waste planning) that could lead to near‑term capital work. Commissioners and staff agreed to continue coordination with the city on projects that overlap municipal jurisdiction and county property.
