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County review of courthouse renovation prioritizes detention upgrades, elevator and courtroom security
Summary
County staff and an owner's-representative team presented concept designs and a phased plan to renovate the Lake County courthouse to address detention, law‑enforcement space, courtroom security and building envelope shortcomings; the board discussed budget constraints, grant opportunities and next steps to refine scope and pricing.
Colleen Kaneda, owner’s representative from Dynamic Program Management, and Jim McLaren of McLaren, Wilson, Lawrie presented a concept "test‑fit" for renovating the Lake County Justice Center and courthouse that prioritizes detention and law‑enforcement upgrades while identifying courtroom security and courtroom layout changes that would be needed if a secure elevator and sally port are added.
The presentation reviewed the project history and budget context. Kaneda said the county has been working several options and that the board directed staff to prioritize detention and courthouse security. The existing courthouse (built in the mid‑1950s) contains multiple deficiencies; the jail closed in February 2019. The team said the county’s working budget is $17 million composed of approximately $8 million from Certificates of Participation (COPs), $5 million general fund contribution and $3.5 million in congressionally directed spending; a separate underfunded‑courts grant of $500,000 has been used for prior planning.
Concept design and sequencing: Jim McLaren described a first‑stage concept that would add a secure sally port (a suspect transfer garage) off the alley between campus buildings, add an elevator vestibule and provide secure circulation from detention to the courtroom to avoid moving defendants through public areas. The proposed sally port and associated elevator vestibule would be new construction; detention holding cells, a small warming kitchen, evidence storage and a dispatch/communications center are shown in the preliminary layout. McLaren said the elevator and related circulation changes would require reconfiguring courtroom layout (including jury and witness placement) and may require moving a stair and cutting a slab in order to meet exiting and security requirements.
Budget and scope concerns: commissioners and court staff raised questions about whether the county has funds to implement the courtroom renovations that would be necessary if the elevator and sally port are built. Elizabeth (the state court architect on the call) urged that courtroom renovations must be included in pricing if the elevator is part of the plan. McLaren and Kaneda said they will pursue a more detailed cost model with FCI Constructors (CMGC) and that alternates will be priced so the board can prioritize which items to fund. Kaneda said the team hopes to have a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) by the end of the calendar year and to begin construction in early 2026 if permitting and pricing allow.
Grants and next steps: presenters and commissioners discussed additional funding opportunities. Elizabeth confirmed Lake County has previously received underfunded‑courts funds and recommended careful treatment of underfunded grant eligibility if courtroom work were carried only as an alternate. The team said congressional project submissions and other grant opportunities would be explored to supplement county COPs and general fund contributions. Kaneda described the near‑term procurement timeline: the county planned to release an RFQP for an architect‑of‑record the week after the meeting, with architect selection in roughly 4–6 weeks and schematic/design development to follow; stakeholder user‑group meetings (including courts, DA and law enforcement) will be part of the architect scope.
Board direction and concerns: commissioners and court staff asked that courtroom security and staff safety not be treated as a low‑priority alternate; Elizabeth and court staff said secure staff areas, jury separation and public‑secure circulation are required for continued court operations. The county team agreed to return with refined cost models and a prioritized menu of alternates so the board can decide which scope elements proceed within available funding. No formal action or vote was taken at the work session.
Why it matters: the building houses multiple essential county functions (courts, sheriff, DA) and has long‑standing deficiencies that affect public access, staff safety and the county’s ability to operate local justice services. The board asked staff to balance immediate detention and security needs with limited resources and to use grants and alternates, where possible, to stretch available funds.
