Lewisville unveils $2.93 million annex remodel schematic focused on courtroom, accessibility and a heritage display

Chris Lee, the city’s chief information officer, presented schematic designs for a planned remodel of the Lewisville Annex that would remake the public lobby, update restrooms, and overhaul the municipal courtroom.

"We're we have wrapped up the schematic design, and we're ready to enter into the construction document phase," Lee said, describing a base design cost of $2.93 million that would cover the lobby, restrooms, courtroom conversion, corridor and stairwell updates, and conversion of the Glen Savage Community Room into staff meeting and training space.

Lee said the courtroom would be reconfigured with a slightly wider but shallower footprint and about 20 fewer public seats; the judge supported the change because the existing 72-seat space is rarely filled. The design includes ballistic shielding at the bench, improved AV/technical systems and broader ADA accommodations, such as reworking screening access for patrons who use wheelchairs.

The plan proposes a new James L. Kunkey heritage collection in the lobby to display the city's history. Lee told council the intent is to protect artifacts and the city would pursue UV protection solutions: "If we move forward with this particular design, with putting this heritage... we want to address any type of UV," he said.

Jason of GFF Design, who identified himself as a project architect, explained optional services in the contract that would be billed separately. "If the city decides to try to apply solar panels to the facility, we would use that service," he said, describing MEP calculations needed to size a photovoltaic array. He also said three civil supplemental services are tied to Army Corps workflow — including species-impact assessments and cultural-resources shovel testing — and would only be used if issues are found on the site.

Council members pressed staff on operational impacts of converting the community room to staff use. Staff said the room averages about 66 rentals a year, mostly one-off events such as parties and graduations, and that other city venues (Thrive, the Grand Theater, Hendrick House) are potential alternatives for public rentals. Lee said the conversion is driven by an identified shortage of staff meeting and training space.

Lee presented two notable alternates not included in the $2.93 million base: full replacement of three skylights, estimated at about $2.36 million, and additional restroom plumbing and fixture work estimated at about $73,000. He said construction could last roughly six to nine months and that some court operations might need temporary relocation while work proceeds.

Council reactions were broadly favorable but included typical questions about UV protection for displays, leak histories for skylights, and whether display-level UV film might be a less expensive alternative. Lee said staff would gather additional cost comparisons and leak-history data for council follow-up.

The council did not take a vote on the remodel at the meeting; staff left with direction to return with cost comparisons and operational details for court continuity and artifact protection.