Following 25-plus years of planning and effort, Taylor County will celebrate its restored historic courthouse in a rededication ceremony on April 16.
“It’s taken five County Judges, eight different Commissioners, and a great team from the Taylor County family to get us this close to completion,” shared Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler.
The goal of the restoration project was to preserve and restore the overall site, exterior, and primary public spaces to the 1915 period of significance; program the building to meet current and future county functions; replace building systems to meet modern standards; and address life safety and accessibility requirements to increase compliance with applicable codes and regulations while maintaining the character-defining features of this important historic structure.
Funding sources for the $23 million project included a $6 million grant from the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and some $9 million in certificates of obligation.
Tamra Lewis, who serves as deputy county administrator for the Taylor County Commissioners Court, described the transformation of the courthouse as a “true unfolding treasure.”
The 1915 Taylor County Courthouse was designed by Waco architect George Burnett. The three story, 40,000 square-foot county capitol is an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture, evident in its well-balanced, symmetrical facades, colossal columns, classical details, and use of brick and stone to create a sense of permanence and grandeur.
The historic courthouse, Abilene’s oldest and most intact governmental building, served as the home of county government until 1972, when another courthouse was constructed to the east; together, the two buildings formed the hub of the county’s judicial system and courts.
Restoration Timeline
Planning efforts to restore the courthouse began when the county submitted its first master plan to the THC in 2001.
In January 2019, Taylor County was awarded a grant from the THC Texas Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) to update its master plan. This update included a re-evaluation of the county’s programming needs, an evaluation of the building to meet code requirements, and an updated cost estimate for construction.
During the master plan update, the county decided to move ahead with the preparation of construction documents to better position itself to obtain a THCPP construction grant to fully restore the courthouse. Taylor County partnered with Architexas, and in June 2020 the county was awarded a construction grant of nearly $6 million to fully restore the courthouse.
Construction was undertaken in two phases: selective demolition, and interior and exterior restoration. The selective demolition phase brought clarity to the project, as many of the original finishes were exposed, accurately documented, and included in the construction documents for replacement or reconstruction. Phase 2 work went out for bid in February 2022, and Joe R. Jones Construction Inc. was selected.
Project Highlights
In the 1950s and 1960s, a number of major alterations to the building occurred, which were reversed during the restoration project.
The exterior restoration included removal of nonoriginal or damaged elements and finishes; masonry cleaning, repointing, and stone, brick, and concrete repairs; construction of concrete areaways including steps and ramps for egress and accessibility; restoration and reconstruction of existing entry steps; door and window reconstruction; and installation of a lightning protection system.
The interior alterations included an enlarged ADA-compliant elevator; a new accessible platform lift; restored and new wood and metal door assemblies; restoration and reconstruction of cast ornamental metal railings and guardrails; flat and cast ornamental plaster wall and ceiling finishes; and reconstruction of marble finishes at entries, steps, and wainscot. The terrazzo flooring and mosaic tile flooring were restored. The columns and piers were restored and reconstructed with a scagliola finish in main public corridors.
Interior and exterior staining and painting was completed to match historic colors, including a vibrant green accent on the monumental stair railings. Finally, the reconstruction of courtroom furnishings and dividing rails was completed to closely match the historic design.
The offices of the County Judge and County Commissioners, the Commissioners Courtroom, human resources, and the offices of the county treasurer and the county auditor have all relocated to the restored courthouse. Restoration details provided by Architexas – Architecture, Planning, and Historic Preservation Inc.
Editor’s Note: The project description above is a condensed version of the full scope of work provided by Architexas; the full description is available at here.