Texas Courthouse Upgrade Considerations Include Elevator

At a meeting of the Presidio County Commissioners Court in Texas in June, William Helm of In*Situ Architecture in El Paso gave a presentation, part of a larger discussion on how to upgrade the historic structures, on potential upgrades to the Presidio County Courthouse and Jail, The Big Bend Sentinel reports. The elevator makes the courthouse’s famous cupola and art deco courtroom lighting accessible to all but complaints say it chronically gets stuck, “We’re trying not only to make the elevator more functional than it is today, but also to make it fully compliant with current elevator code,” Helm said. The commissioners could opt for an all-new system, but Helm advised that the elevator could be safely rehabbed using the existing car and rails. The courthouse is the tallest building in town. Other considerations at the meeting were the courthouse’s air conditioning system and the roof of the Presidio County Jail. Helm’s suggestions for this latest renovation are preliminary, offering estimated costs for each option that a potential contractor might charge. Because the courthouse is a protected historical site, keeping the building as intact as possible is a top priority.