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This project, for the Ministry of the Attorney General, demonstrates our ability to complete a complex renovation project within a secure work environment.

The new courthouse will consolidate and refurbishment the two current St. Thomas courthouses of the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.

Initially constructed in 1852, the Elgin County Courthouse was a three-storey, domed Palladian style building constructed of stone and yellow brick. It was gutted by fire in 1898 and was rebuilt and expanded to include flanking wings, entrance porches and a copper roofed dome.

The Land Registry Office was originally built in 1874 and has had two subsequent additions. The one storey yellow brick building with gabled wings, round arched openings and barrel-vaulted interior spaces was constructed according to 1868 architectural specifications designed to protect government records in the event of floods, fire and theft.

The new consolidated courthouse will incorporate these two heritage buildings, maintaining existing heritage features such as the copper dome, decorative moldings and plaster work and stained glass windows, while modernizing the facility to an efficient LEED Silver certified building.

Due to the sensitive nature of the courthouse, Stephenson worked closely with other consultants to ensure the building is blast-safe.

In addition, Stephenson completed progressive collapse analysis on the building.