Architects propose $21.3 million plan to renovate Elko County courthouse and add new office building

The Elko County Board of Commissioners on July 15 heard a detailed presentation from HA Architects and KMB Architects on revised concepts for the downtown county complex that seek to keep the historic courthouse in active use while addressing security, accessibility and space shortages.

"In 2023, Elko County retained KMB architects to complete a comprehensive programming and feasibility study for the downtown campus," principal Brian Coleman said, describing work that led to a concept with a two-story secured public entrance, an exterior elevator and a bridge linking the courthouse to the annex to free up courtroom and office space. The architects told the board the updated planning‑level estimate is approximately $21,300,000 — slightly above the county's $20 million objective — and identified separable alternates to allow phasing.

The plan would repurpose existing spaces for court functions, move the public defender, assessor and recorder into a new roughly 15,000 sq ft office building and provide improved ADA access and a downstream security screening area. Bill Valdez, KMB's judicial expert, said the bridge would permit the reallocation of courtroom and staff space while keeping a large courtroom in the Bank Building available for larger trials and jury selection.

Commissioners pressed architects on courtroom counts, security points of entry and site selection; the architects said multiple courtroom locations would remain, that the Bank Building across the street would continue to host district court functions, and that a corner parcel on Court Street provides better adjacency to parking and future expansion than a 5th & Idaho alternate. The architects also recommended keeping a courtroom renovation alternate separated from the core scope so aesthetics or nonessential finishes can be phased in later without jeopardizing the primary operational improvements.

Architects estimated 8–9 months to produce full design documents and roughly 12–16 months for construction, with phasing required to move staff and preserve court operations during work. A member of the public reminded the board that NRS 5696 requires a separate secure waiting area for victims and witnesses; staff acknowledged the requirement and said it would be incorporated into the design.

Commissioners voiced general support for proceeding with design but deferred final action until Chairman Delmo can participate. They directed staff and the architects to continue refining scope, cost estimates and phasing plans and to return for a decision at a future meeting.