New County Courthouse

[westsider28]

Framework for the columns that will surround the portico/atrium has been installed.  There's a tent in front of the current courthouse with a ceremonial "final beam" that dignitaries will likely sign to "top out" the building.

[NotNotSanti]

31 minutes ago, westsider28 said:

Framework for the columns that will surround the portico/atrium has been installed.  There's a tent in front of the current courthouse with a ceremonial "final beam" that dignitaries will likely sign to "top out" the building.

I found out that the holding area that is across the street for those waiting trial will no longer be needed as the actual courthouse will serve that purpose also. That should free up that W. St John St and N Daniel Morgan Avenue corner for some new development. 

[westsider28]

5 hours ago, NotNotSanti said:

I found out that the holding area that is across the street for those waiting trial will no longer be needed as the actual courthouse will serve that purpose also. That should free up that W. St John St and N Daniel Morgan Avenue corner for some new development. 

I believe it's actually an upcoming expansion to the detention center on California Avenue that is rendering that facility unnecessary.  But either way, it will be unused in a few years.  Not that it's a great site, being across from the butt-end of the courthouse and next to a rail line.  I wish we could consolidate a bunch of lawyers offices into a large building there.

[westsider28]

"Topping-out" ceremony scheduled for Thursday (though it looks like it may get rained out).

[westsider28]

Here's a screencap from the County's January "Penny Projects" video:

And some photos I took last week (portico columns going up):

[Spartan]

Is the roof actually red or is that some kind of lining?

[gman430]

1 hour ago, Spartan said:

Is the roof actually red or is that some kind of lining?

Lining. Grey/silver steel paneling is gonna cover it. 

Edited February 12, 2023 by gman430

[westsider28]

I actually didn't mind the red, but yeah the final roofing material is going up now:

Edited February 12, 2023 by westsider28

[Spartan]

Historically speaking its built in a style that often had terracotta tiles on the roof, which could have been cool too. But thanks for the clarification.

[vicupstate]

The red roof definitely made it stand out more. Given its size and importance, that isn't a bad thing. oh well.  

[westsider28]

Façade installation getting pretty close to completion:

[westsider28]

From this past weekend:

[westsider28]

The big mobile crane is on the back side to hoist cladding onto the corner section that they've been using for exterior construction elevators.  That suggests that the interior elevators are now operational.  Once that's closed up, it will be pretty much all interior work until the October opening.

[westsider28]

The final exterior panel was placed on the rear of the courthouse yesterday.  There are more than 1,100 precast panels on the outside of the courthouse, and some of them weigh as much as 50,000 pounds.  On the interior: two elevators are in use; a few courtrooms, several offices, holding cells and other areas are coming together; and the monumental stairs are up.  In total, there are 713 rooms inside the new courthouse, along with 996 doors and 138 windows.  This info came from the County's Instagram post, which has several progress photos (I've included some below).  And here's the video update on the courthouse (and police HQ):

 

Edited April 15, 2023 by westsider28

[westsider28]

The County posted a gallery of interior progress photos on Facebook today.  Looking pretty good.  Only 4 months until it opens!

[westsider28]

Herald-Journal article with a brief update about the new Courthouse.  It's on-schedule to be complete by October.  Then in November/December, offices will begin moving over there from the existing courthouse.

[westsider28]

DMA has been partially closed to car traffic as they've been installing new curbing behind the Courthouse site.  The street will be 3 lanes (1 travel lane in each direction + turn lane median).  Looks like a decent sidewalk is being put in (reasonably wide and separated from the street).

Edited July 16, 2023 by westsider28

[westsider28]

More curbing in.  I believe DMA is supposed to be reopened at the end of this week.

[westsider28]

DMA sidewalk and curbing progress continues:

[westsider28]

Courthouse update video.  Looks like interiors are getting pretty close to completion.

Also, work on the plaza/park staircase down to St John is underway.

[westsider28]

DMA is open in its new 2-lanes-and-median configuration, but it's kind of confusing right now because of bad pavement, poorly painted lines, and no signage (about merging, etc).  The remainder of Library Street is also paved.

I walked the sidewalk back there.  It's approx. 5-6 feet wide with ~4-5 foot buffer to the road.  The newly restored sidewalk along St John looks to be ~8 feet wide, which is an improvement from the past, but there was plenty of room to go wider (plus there are no street trees, b/c SCDOT).

The stairs have a straight-shot sidewalk connection to the Courthouse at the top, which is a change from initial plans that showed a curved path to the future plaza in front (the straight path is probably better, as people want to walk the shortest distance).  The presence of the staircase has always worried me (since seeing the plans) that it will encourage people to Frogger their way across St John Street there...

Edit - County update video:

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by westsider28
Added County update video

[westsider28]

Lots of landscaping has gone in on the rear and sides of the Courthouse site.  A new walkway from the parking deck to the new courthouse has been paved.  And construction fencing has been relocated in a configuration that would seem to precede the demolition of the old courthouse.

[Sparkleman]

What's up with the steps that lead down to St John St? You can't park there and there isn't a cross walk (yet?).

I fail to understand why these were put in.

[hub-city]

1 hour ago, Sparkleman said:

What's up with the steps that lead down to St John St? You can't park there and there isn't a cross walk (yet?).

I fail to understand why these were put in.

I don't understand either.  The only thing I could think of is maybe that will be the only way to access the front entrance from the Main Street side while they are demoing the old courthouse....

[drexel]

Why not repave all of DMA behind the courthouse?  As much money as we taxpayers have spent for the new courthouse. SC road conditions pretty much suck.