www.thurstoncountywa.gov

THURSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSEand Regional Administrative Buildings Project

PROCESSEXISTING

COURTHOUSE THE NEED

artist rendering of potential future courthouse

NEEDS ADDRESSED

PROPOSED COURTHOUSE

PROCESS

UPCOMING MILESTONESCOMPLETED WORK

PROCESS & PROJECT TIMELINE

TAS Space Needs AssessmentTAS Feasibility StudyTAS/HOK Security StudyMENG Report – Assessment of Existing Courthouse ConditionsTAS Comprehensive Comparative Feasibility Site Study(January) Commissioners Select Preferred Site (April) Decision by Commissioners to go out for Public Vote in April of 2020

2013:

2015:

2015: 2016:

2018:

2019:

Public VoteDesign Begins (if approved by voters)County Tax Assessment Begins (for next 25 years)Construction Begins Project Completion

APRIL 2020:2021:

JANUARY 2021:

2022:

2025:

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3

1

4

5

6

EXISTING THURSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDINGS

REASONS CITIZENS VISIT• Serve on a jury• Make a payment• Apply for a permit• Apply for a passport• Register to vote • Visit a County official• Conduct court-related business• Attend a meeting or hearing

JUSTICE AND COUNTY SERVICES• Superior Court, District Court• County Clerk’s Office• Prosecuting Attorney’s Office• Pretrial Services• Public Defense• County Assessor• Auditor• Treasurer • Board of County

Commissioners• Community Planning and

Economic Development• Human Resources• Public Health

HOME TO COURTS AND MUCH MORE

EXISTING CITY OF OLYMPIA JUSTICE CENTER

LEE CREIGHTON JUSTICE CENTER• City of Olympia Municipal Court• City Prosecutor• Community Court• Probation Services• Public Defense• Olympia City Police / Holding

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1

4

5

6

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

BUILDING 143,588 SF (3 stories)

• Central Services• Information Technology (IT)• Auditor• Assessor• Treasurer• Commissioners• Community Planning and

Economic Development

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

BUILDING 241,250 SF (2 stories)

• Superior Court• Clerk’s Office• Prosecuting

Attorney’s Office

BUILDING 377,248 SF (3 stories)

• District Court• Sheriff• In-Custody Holding• Sally Port

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1

4

5

6

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

BUILDING 416,219 SF (2 stories)

• Human Resources• Water Resource

Stewardship• Commissioners &

Finance• Auditor• Information

Services (G.I.S)• Pretrial Services

BUILDING 519,916 SF (2 stories)

• ProsecutingAttorney’s Office

BUILDING 69,120 SF (1 story)

• Public Defense

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1

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5

6

PROCESSEXISTING

COURTHOUSE THE NEEDNEEDS

ADDRESSEDPROPOSED

COURTHOUSE

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

WAYFINDING

• Six buildings on 3 different blocks

• No clear sense of Entrance

• Limited queuing space for security screening

EXISTING COURTHOUSE | WAYFINDING

WAYFINDING & ACCESS TO SERVICES• Narrow corridors• Departments located behind doors

off public corridor• No central information desk• Inefficient information/direction

system◦ Wait in line to ask a question only

to find out you are in the wrong building

◦ Staff efficiency reduced due to constant need to redirect the public

EXISTING COURTHOUSE | WAYFINDING

• Parking is limited and spaces are often full

• Jurors walk up to ¼ mile from the parking lot to report for jury duty

• Wheelchair access is poor

• Transit service is rated 40 on a 100-point scale

• Multiple buildings and entrances make services hard to find

HARD TO ACCESS

PROCESS

THE NEED

PROCESSEXISTING

COURTHOUSE THE NEEDNEEDS

ADDRESSEDPROPOSED

COURTHOUSE

• Tight space makes security screening challenging

• Only 2 of 6 buildings have security screening stations

SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS

SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS

Hall currently used by jurors, witnesses, defendants and judges

Judge circulation Jury circulation Persons in custody circulation

THE NEED | SECURITY

Building 3 Security Screening Area• Very tight space; no room for

proper circulation• Exiting public pass behind

security personnel

Building 2 Security Screening Area• Short vestibule allows for

limited queuing space (exposed to outdoors)

• Exiting public separated from entering public by stanchion

• Heating and cooling systems are inefficient and costly to operate

• The roof leaks• The buildings do not meet

current earthquake safety codes

• Outdated data cabling limits use of modern technology

WORN AND SUBSTANDARD

• Repairs estimated at more than $50 million to extend building life for 10 years

• Current buildings are not energy efficient and are expensive to operate and maintain

CURRENT COURTHOUSE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Proj

Maintenance and Capital ExpendituresBuildings 1 - 6

$2.5 Million

$2.0 Million

$1.5 Million

$1.0 Million

$ .5 Million

CapitalMaintenance & Operations

MAINTENANCE OF FACILITY• $50M+ in known maintenance

issues• Finishes are worn out• Hardware is outdated• Roof leaks• Existing IT infrastructure is

inadequate, as buildings were constructed before computers

SAFETY• Does not meet current

earthquake safety codes

THE NEED | AGING BUILDING

Needed Roof Replacement

Outdated HVAC Rooftop Units

Failing Soffits

Poor Performing HVAC

Electrical Panels at Maximum Capacity

Outdated Technology

Damaged Switches and Receptacles

Needed Roof Replacement

Failing Built-UpRoofing Material

THE NEED | AGING BUILDING

ELECTRICAL• Outdated technology• 2018 power outage due to failed

high-voltage power supply line• Replacement of entire system is

needed

“Main feeder failure due to age and deterioration of insulation. Insulation failure caused arc/short and feeder failure.”

THE NEED | 2018 POWER FAILURE

ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS EVALUATED

• State law requires the Courthouse be in Olympia

• Acreage, road and transit access, utility service, space for parking, and risk from an earthquake and sea-level rise were considered

• Public gave input at open houses and by survey about alternative sites, accessibility, and compatibility with neighbors

ANALYSIS OF ANNUAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION & COSTS

EXISTING COURTHOUSE

BTU PER SQ SF 77,755 COST PER SQ SF $1.52

TOTAL ENERGY COST $360,974

NEW COURTHOUSE

BTU PER SQ FT 40,000

COST PER SQ SF $0.77ENERGY COST $242,000

50% more space and 50% improved energy usage efficiency

1892 – 1905 (13 years) 1905 – 1930 (25 years)

1930 – 1978 (48 years) 1978 – present (40 years)

THURSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE HISTORY

PREVIOUS COURTHOUSES• Constructed of stone material• Designed to last 100+ years

CURRENT COURTHOUSE• Built in 1978• Wood frame construction with

flat roofs and brick veneer• Rooftop HVAC units

Since 1978, Thurston County has grown by over 150,000 people and is projected to grow another 150,000+ by the year 2054.

1978

2024

DOUBLED+150,000

+150,000

46yrs 30yrs2054

COUNTY POPULATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE

• The Thurston County Courthouse was built when the County had half the population and the area continues to grow

• Lack of space causes late start times and delays in the courtroom

MEGHAN’S PHOTOS TO COME / JURORS

QUEUEING

OUT OF SPACE

ADDITIONAL SPACE CHALLENGES• Departments have grown beyond size of current building footprint• Inefficiencies due to lack of much needed inter-department adjacencies

• Level of service is being limited by available staff/ offices

• Redundancies in common spaces due to segregation• Overbooked conference rooms• Limited parking for staff and visitors

OUT OF SPACE

OUT OF SPACE

Public hall currently used for attorney-client conferences

NEEDS ADDRESSEDPROCESS

EXISTING COURTHOUSE THE NEED PROPOSED

COURTHOUSE

NEEDS ADDRESSED

JOINT COUNTY/CITY EFFORT TO CURB EXPANSION NEEDS

PRETRIAL COURT SERVICES

• Keeps jail resources dedicated to higher risk offenders

• Ensure follow-up court appearances and preserve public safety

• Identifies potential inter-department efficiencies

• Addresses safety, defendant well-being, return court appearance and cost-savings

DIVERSION FROM COURTS

• Community Youth Services

• Friendship Diversion Services

WELLNESS CENTERS

• Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

BENEFITS OF NEW COURTHOUSE

ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS• Improvements throughout facility

including site access, parking, building access, courtrooms, all public spaces and private offices

• TRANSIT – Score of 56 (out of 100), site served on 3 of 4 sides

• PEDESTRIAN – Score of 85 (out of 100)• BICYCLES – Excellent existing commuting

routes• AUTO – Close proximity to freeway and

major transportation corridors

SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS• One common point of

security/screening for both courthouse and administration

• CIRCULATION – Proper separation of public, judges, jury, persons in-custody, defendants, prosecutors, witnesses

• Secure parking for jurors

Plum

Str

eet

8th Avenue

PLUM STREET SITE SELECTED

• Build on the site of the old Olympia City Hall, near downtown, replacing the Olympia Municipal Justice Center

• City and County would share courtrooms and other facilities

artist rendering of potential future courthouse

PROPOSED COURTHOUSE

NEEDS ADDRESSED

PROPOSED COURTHOUSE

PROCESSEXISTING

COURTHOUSE THE NEED

• Proposition on ballot April 28, 2020

• New Courthouse would be built to last 75-100 years

• Voters to decide whether to increase property tax for Courthouse construction

• Simple majority required to pass

Proposed New Courthouse

SIZE: 330,000 square feet

HEIGHT: Courthouse = 110 feet

Administrative building = 70 feet

SCHEDULE: 2021 Design start2022 Construction start

2025 Project completion

PROPOSED NEW COURTHOUSE

Artist rendering of potential future Courthouse

Design• More space for courts and

services• Energy efficient construction

for savings on heating, cooling, lighting, maintenance, and technology

• Sustainable design principles applied to materials, air quality, and lighting

FEATURES OF A NEW COURTHOUSE

Operations• A one-stop customer service

desk would help people find services, offices, and departments

Judge circulationJury circulationPersons in custody circulationPublic circulation

SECURITY & SAFETY

• One common security screening station for Courthouse and administration

• Separation of jurors, judges, and witnesses from defendants

• Increased safety of public, staff, and persons in-custody

• Reduced risk of mistrial• Pair of attorney-client

conference rooms outside of each courtroom

Accessibility• More parking and bus stops• Better access by foot, bike,

bus and car

• Better access for people with disabilities

ACCESSIBILITY - FEATURES OF A NEW COURTHOUSE

County Courthouse Project County, Other

PAYING FOR A NEW COURTHOUSE

• Funded by a property tax increase collected over 25 years, as authorized by the state legislature

• If approved, the annual property tax on a $300,000 home would increase by about $12/month

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN COUNTY & CITY

Opportunities• Public and staff support spaces• Multi-use spaces

• Jury assembly room

• Pretrial services• Social services• Court-appointed special advocate

• Lobby spaces

• Parking

Benefits• Reduced operational costs• Lower first costs and long-term cost

savings

• Reduced carbon footprint• Shared common areas and services• Increased security

`

STACKING DIAGRAM FOR FLOORS LL – 2

STACKING DIAGRAM FOR FLOORS 3 – 5

Parking Structure750 parking stalls (structure)150 parking stalls (surface)100’ away from Courthouse

artist rendering of potential future courthouse

Passenger Drop-Off & ADA access

Yashiro Japanese GardensExisting to be supplemented

Administration Building150,000 SF

Courthouse Building180,000 SF

COURTHOUSE AERIAL VIEWartist rendering of potential future courthouse

COURTHOUSE DROP-OFFartist rendering of potential future courthouse

Entry Canopy

Access Entry DriveCivic Presence upon entry into Olympia

Building Within a Park(building and landscape) Covered Link to Parking

artist rendering of potential future courthouse

Secure Lobby on the ground floor with municipal service counters

Reader BoardsDirectional and informational signage

ServiceLobby provides access to high-use public services for County and City

COURTHOUSE ENTRY LOBBY

www.thurstoncountywa.gov

RICK THOMASProject Manager

360.867.2316

MEGHAN PORTERPublic Information Supervisor

360.867.2097