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Seismic retrofit project will include rehabilitation of historic lobby and entryways, and interpretation of this landmark civic building's historic and architectural significance.
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The King County Courthouse is one of our most important civic landmarks, but modifications to the building in recent decades have diminished its historic character. A renovation project, which is currently underway, will reverse some of those unfortunate changes, and begin to restore some of the building's grandeur.
A seismic retrofit of the courthouse was already in the design phase when the Nisqually Earthquake occurred in 2001. The King County Council quickly appropriated funds for the construction phase of the project, and the renovation project has progressed rapidly. The King County Landmarks Commission has been involved in many stages of the project, reviewing proposed changes to the landmark building's exterior, and to the interior public spaces.
Along with the seismic retrofit and upgraded safety standards, the current renovation project will include restoration of the elegant public lobby spaces at both the Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue entryways. Archways and terra cotta detailing will be restored, and a series of new public artworks will interpret the history of Seattle and King County for courthouse visitors. Although the current project does not include restoration of the former south entry (now a loading dock) facing Courthouse Park , it will bring back some of the building's former elegance by enhancing public spaces and restoring architectural elements that invoke the courthouse's civic role as a temple of justice. The expected completion date of the project is February 2005.
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