Adams County hears $20M-plus plan to preserve courthouse, build annex; consultants give $7.5M and $12.5–15M cost ranges

Adams County commissioners on Tuesday heard a detailed cost opinion and schedule for a two-part Justice Center project that would renovate the historic courthouse and build a new annex across 3rd Street to consolidate courts and justice-related offices.

Consultants from Elevatus and Garmong presented floor plans, security concepts and a conservative cost opinion during a lengthy briefing. Jake Blackwell, one of the presenters who provided the construction and budget analysis, said the county is "roughly on the courthouse side about, just a little over 6,000,000 in construction cost" and that the all-in courthouse package (including design, permitting, furniture and contingencies) is roughly "in that 7 and a half million dollar range." For the new annex, Blackwell presented a low-to-high construction range of about $12.5 million to $15 million and a medium estimate near $13.7 million, with full project budgets (soft costs, AV, FF&E, contingencies) driving a combined funding need the commissioners and presenters discussed as approximately $20 million to $22.5 million.

Why it matters: Consultants and commissioners said the plan would keep the historic courthouse in judicial use while consolidating prosecutor, public defender, community corrections and probation staff into an adjacent modern facility. Supporters argued the layout improves operational efficiency and preserves the courthouse’s architectural character while addressing security and ADA access needs.

Presenters described a program that emphasizes shared conference rooms and common spaces to reduce redundant rooms and long‑term operating costs. Blackwell said the design anticipates a single elevator now with a shaft for a second elevator later and noted several alternates—exterior finishes, flooring and sound mitigation—could change the final price materially.

Sheriff (role: Sheriff) raised operational concerns about a proposed security screening point adjacent to an elevator and about prisoner movement through the secure path from holding cells to courtrooms. The sheriff told the board: "The security screen point... Are you sure that's gonna fit that hallway with right outside the elevator? That's gonna be the egress and exit for people coming in, waiting in line, and having a screening location there. That's enough space. I need convincing of that." Consultants said they would work with the sheriff to refine egress, prisoner circulation and ramp/step details in the basement and entry sequences.

Consultants recommended a design and permitting timeline that would allow procurement about a year from now and suggested market escalation of roughly 4% was already included in their numbers (they used 1% per quarter as an escalation assumption). Jake Blackwell advised allowing about 7–9 months for design and early permitting, then procurement and a construction start targeting the first quarter of 2027 for market timing; he estimated the new-build construction period at about 12–15 months if the county were to proceed on that schedule.

Next steps: Commissioners asked consultants to provide the full cost-opinion documents and plan sets for review and agreed to consider an action item on the project at the next commissioners’ meeting so they can take any formal position before the County Council meeting on July 14. County staff said Jason Simler of Baker Tilly will meet with the council to discuss funding options when commissioners provide a firm project concept and cost estimate.

The consultants characterized their work as a study-level opinion rather than a guaranteed maximum price; they recommended the county engage a designer and construction manager to refine scope, reduce change-order risk and advance toward a Guaranteed Maximum Price.