Architects say courthouse reuse is feasible; commissioners defer RFQ decision to March 31

Architects working on a feasibility study for the Thurston County Regional Justice Center told the county board on March 25 that revised concepts accommodate expanded courtroom needs while improving separation of circulation for public, staff and in-custody users.

"We were able to determine some other benefits that actually came from that option," architect Bill Valdez said of a revised layout that flips staff circulation interior to the building and creates external public circulation, reducing travel distances for staff and improving daylighting and sightlines.

The feasibility presentation documented responses to judges'issued comments and illustrated two main circulation options. Architects described design features intended to reduce risk in courtroom operations: dedicated in-custody elevators and holding areas, direct in-custody delivery to several courtrooms, nearly half the courtrooms configured with secure delivery, and expanded jury deliberation access directly adjacent to courtroom wells to simplify jury movement.

Architects also outlined updated evidence-room strategies, saying modern steel-panel and high-density enclosures can replace earlier concrete vault approaches and allow more flexibility in evidence-room siting.

Preliminary budget parameters were discussed: staff said the feasibility work was scoped to funding windows the county has discussed with state and federal partners, with a target range described as roughly $10'15 million and a possible upper bound near $20 million depending on scope and phasing. County manager Leonard Hernandez and architects emphasized the plan was a feasibility-level study, not a final design.

Following the presentation a board member moved to "direct Central Services to conclude the feasibility study period for the Thurston County Regional Justice Center and authorize Central Services to issue the request for qualifications for professional consulting services related to design, space planning, and adaptive reuse of the Thurston County Regional Justice Center and associated campus." A second was indicated, but multiple commissioners requested additional time to review the materials; several members said the feasibility packet had been emailed days earlier and they needed time to digest the drawings.

Chair Ty Mener and staff agreed to postpone formal action until a March 31 meeting to allow full board review and to preserve the possibility of a unanimous vote. Staff said architects'provided response matrix and feasibility materials will remain available and that issuing an RFQ could begin once the board gives direction.

Next steps: commissioners will review the architects' response matrix and feasibility drawings, staff will be available for follow-up briefings, and the board will consider formal authorization for an RFQ at the March 31 meeting.

Attribution: Presentation excerpts and design detail quotes are from architects Jana Peters and Bill Valdez; funding and process comments are from County Manager Leonard Hernandez and staff during the March 25, 2026 work session.