Exterior Restoration, 2000

Ford, Powell & Carson restored the exterior of this Texas courthouse to its original state in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Chapter 442 in the Texas Government Code. The columns and balconies on the central tower as well as the tiles and metalwork of the original roof had been removed, so these elements were carefully reconstructed. Most of the paint had been removed by previous sandblasting, but the team used historic photographs to determine the original paint colors and locations. The sandstone exterior and wood casework were also restored.

Because the courthouse is sited on a traditional town square, there is no backside to the building where HVAC equipment can be hidden. The team solved this by concealing the condensing units behind the east and west tympanums. Site work included replacement of sidewalks to accommodate new grades and handicapped access. A new handicapped-accessible ramp and light metal bridge were designed to complement the historic building.