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Lawmakers say renovation likely to trigger full-code retrofits, driving up cost
Summary
Legislators and project staff debated whether renovating the existing masonry jail is feasible; officials said meeting current IBC/IEBC and Commission rules plus geotechnical constraints likely make partial renovation as costly or costlier than new construction.
Legislator George Lawson and Project Manager Lance Lowell walked the Legislature through structural and code obstacles to renovating the existing facility. Lawson, who described his experience in repair and fabrication, said the masonry, load-bearing walls and precast roof make it impractical to reconfigure cell blocks to meet current daylight, dayroom and direct-supervision requirements.
"They couldn't even lower the number of cells in those rooms and meet the space requirements that are required," Lawson said, summarizing why the retrofit estimates rose sharply. Lowell added that renovating would require full compliance with 2025 IBC and IEBC codes, upgrades to security electronics and mechanical systems, and would likely force boarding out inmates during construction—factors that increase cost and complexity. Legislators said those technical points account for why early renovation estimates proved higher than some expected.
