(CENTREVILLE) - St. Joseph County is moving forward with a major renovation of the Centreville Courts Building.
Deputy County Administrator Erin Goff says this marks the first comprehensive updates to the facility in more than 50 years. This project is designed to improve safety, modernize building systems and enhance overall court operations for residents and staff.
Over the past several years, the Courts Building has experienced growing operational and space limitations. The approved renovations will address these challenges while bringing the building into compliance with current safety and accessibility standards.
Goff says construction staging and setup activity will get underway the week of April 20. There will be intermittent road and parking lot closures for the duration of the project.
The key project improvements include: Establishment of a single, secure public entry point; Enhanced building access controls; Creation of a secure sallyport for in-custody movement; Upgrades to fire alarm and life safety systems; Replacement of aging mechanical and electrical systems; Elevator modernization to meet current compliance standards; and Exterior improvements, including windows, doors and masonry repairs.
Goff says to allow construction to move more efficiently and safely, several departments have been relocated.
Moving to the Annex Building at 115 South Dean Street in Centreville are: Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Public Defender, District Court Probation and Facilities.
The Equalization and Community Corrections will be at the Training Center, located at 603 East Main Street in Centreville.
Moving to the Historic Courthouse are District Court, the Prosecutor's Office and the County Clerk's Office Elections Division. Being relocated to the Three Rivers Campus, 902 West Michigan Avenue is Circuit Court.
Goff says as part of the enhanced safety measures, all individuals conducting business in the Historic Courthouse are required to enter through the designated secure entrance and pass through security screening. This will apply to all visitors, employees and contractors.