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235-2008:
Second section - January 18 1995
Huron's court house to get a facelift
The county is going ahead with a $1.7 million renovatio
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
GODERICH - The county capital
of Huron County, where all the ac-
tion takes place if you're involved
in a legal or political matter, is go-
ing through a drastic change.
Beginning sometime in April, the
historic Huron County Court House
will undertake a $1.7 million ren-
ovation project. Although the ex-
terior of the building won't change
that much, it's inside where all the
improvements will take place.
What is the most interesting
about this project is that it clearly
indicates what departments in the
county need more space to carry
out their day-to-day operations.
Recently, architects Allan Avis
and John Rutledge brought their fi-
nal draft of the renovations to Hu-
ron County Council. Although
there are seven new members on
the 25 -person council, it was an-
nounced that the project will now
go to tender.
"The design was a comfortable
fit," said Rutledge of the renova-
tions which will take place primari-
ly in the basement and first floor.
It is interesting to note that the 40
year-old court house functions not
only as the offices of various
county departments but, also, the
provincial courts.
"Ninety percent of the people us-
ing this building are going upstairs
to the courts," said Rutledge.
Despite that, it will be the county,
not the courts that will gain the ma-
jority of the benefits of the renova-
tions which could take up to seven
months to complete.
Rutledge explained that the court
house, completed in 1956 after the
100 year-old former structure
burned down, is a rare archi-
tectural style called Modern Clas-
sisism.
He noted that other such famous
buildings with the same style are
the residence of former Prime Min-
ister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in Mon-
treal and the Supreme Court House
building in Ottawa.
While county departments won't
see a drastic change in the actual
square footage in which they take
up in the court house, staff will see
a big change in which the space is
used.
For example, the planning de-
partment which has become very
busy the last .several years, has a
new concept in that everything is
fairly open.
"It's a department that will go
through a total change. When you
go in you'll see everything," said
Rutledge.
One of the few departments to
have a decrease in the amount of
square footage will be the Health
Unit.
"'The Health Unit is a branch of-
fice so it was consolidated. We
need to provide for the elevator off
the south landing," explained Rut-
ledge.
The elevator which will cost
$85,000 is one of the most im-
portant parts of the entire project
which fits into the five -point total
renovation plan. The five ob-
jectives are: barrier -free access-
ibility, office renovations, upgrade
of the mechanical and electrical
systems, life safety upgrade and as-
bestos abatement.
"The main thrust is to address
barrier -free access," said Avis.
The total cost of the project is
$1.7 million of which two-thirds is
coming from the county's infra-
structure money and the rest from
ect on 40 year-old building
"Ninety percent of the people
using the building
are going upstairs to the courts."
the county's capital reserves bud-
get.
Huron County is also hoping that
the Town of Goderfh will help
piek up T SI18Pe of the one-third as
the town will gain some benefit
from the landscaping around the
court house.
"We hope everything will pro-
ceed favorably with those cost shar-
ing groyps," said Rutledge.
The basement of the building has
several vaults, two of those will be
converted. One will become the
print shop and another used as a
holding cell for the provincial
Courts. -
"It met with approval from the
OPP because they want two cells.
They like the access to the elevator.
They like the shortest distance for
transporting," said Rutledge.
There are several small meeting
rooms in the building but they are
tucked away in various corners.
With the renovations, the five new
ones will be easier to get to by the
staff.
"Anybody could book or use
these without walking through an-
other department. That is very im-
portant," said Rutledge.
Removal of asbestos will cost
$40,000 and the total mechanical
hill, including plumbing and heat-
ing systems is $325,000. The cost
of the electrical work, including a
security system is $127,000.
The old piping for the heating
system has deteriorated and a new
copper system will be installed.
The boilers will be moved from the
basement to the top of the building.
There were no complaints or sug-
gestions to the architects from the
council but Brian McBurney did
ask about a smoking room in the
building which now has a no smok-
ing policy.
"I wonder if there is a small room
for those of us with the smoking
habit," asked McBurney of Turn -
berry Township.
"It was s?fnethillg" itever dis-
cussed, maybe it was overlooked,"
said Rutledge.
On January 22, 1867, Huron
County held its own council meet-
ing separate from the joint ones it
had held for the previous 25 years
with Perth and Brice counties.
Now, the building which has
plaques in memory of great men
such as Dr. W.J. Homes who was
the treasurer for 33 years and died
in 1917 and former county warden
Donald Patterson who died in 1920
will take a step towards the next
century with modernization of its
grand old lady - the Huron County
Court House.
Y
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