Logan County Courthouse restoration project moving along nicely

 

[July 05, 2023] 

Work is progressing well with the Logan County Courthouse restoration.

Project manager Bill Walter of MRTS said with the dome restoration, there have been several stages.

Durable Slate Company has completed most of their work. Walter said they brought the copper to the base of the cupola six weeks ago.

The American Scaffolding Company then retrofitted the scaffolding upward, to allow the work to proceed with the Cupola copper.

Next, Walter said Restoric is now putting the new copper on the Cupola. Walter said the center portion of the cupola is for the most part, in place.

In the next couple weeks, Walter said four windows will go into the cupola. It will include glass and a breather vent compared to wood louvers that were there originally.

The work of completing the new Cupola copper may take a couple more weeks weather permitting. Walter said strong wind is something they have had to contend with more so than the rain recently.

The copper is brighter at the top of the dome. Walter said further down, it is darker as the oxidation is beginning.

Once the Cupola is completed, Walter said American Scaffolding will begin carefully dismantling the Scaffolding working from the top down.

Both Durable and Restoric will be doing some touch up work as this scaffolding is removed. Walter said the touch ups will need to be done in areas where Scaffolding interfered. There are some penetrations at the lower portions of the dome from the Scaffolding that will now be restored.

By mid-August, Walter said Durable will have only the base to complete with the copper.

HVAC Geothermal wells were drilled earlier this year. Walter said areas where the drilling was done has been regraded and seeded and is looking more back to normal.

As inside restoration work on the Courthouse is being done, installing the HVAC lines and equipment to the offices, Walter said the first-floor office folks have relocated to other buildings. County Board Administrative Assistants Kati Newman and Angi Webb are using office space in the Regions Bank building. Other from the Probation department are using space in the Orr Building across from the Courthouse.

Folks from the first floor are anticipating their move back into the offices in the Courthouse over the next few weeks. Walter said the second-floor employees are now planning to vacate their offices and move to other locations. The third-floor employees will relocate later.

[Angela Reiners with photos by Bill Walter]