Saline County Courthouse
Scope of Work
Full architectural services
Berggren Architects completed an addition to the historic courthouse.
Location
Wilber, NE
History
Saline County Courthouse, circa 1927
Designed by Marcus L. Evans
Completion
This project was completed in 2019.
The Challenge
Though the Saline County Courthouse was the ultimate in modern design when it was constructed in 1927, it had become deficient regarding compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and current fire code requirements.
Issues arising from space deficiency were also apparent, such as the lack of waiting areas and lack of separation between the general public and detainees on court session days. The growth of many county offices that are already at capacity only added to the issue.
The Strategy
After extensive staff interviews and review of available documents, Berggren Architects identified the primary needs of addressing security concerns and the preferred adjacencies of administrative, judicial, service, and support spaces.
A main feature of the addition is a new elevator with both south and west doors. One secured elevator door allows for access to private spaces—those meant for detainees and court staff—which were designed to otherwise be secluded from public spaces.
This satisfies the Nebraska Supreme Court’s standards for public safety and the preservation of dignity for detainees.
The Results
The $7.3 million, five-story Saline County Courthouse addition was completed in 2019. A main feature is a new elevator with both south and west doors. One secured elevator door allows for access to private spaces—those meant for detainees and court staff—which were designed to otherwise be secluded from public spaces.
Other spaces include a new county courtroom, secured point of entry, a sally port providing a separate entrance for detainees, new fire separation for existing stairs, and an Emergency Management Center located in the basement designed to withstand an F5 tornado.
As much of the original courthouse was carried over to the new space as possible. Marble salvaged from old restrooms were reused to infill removed doors and for new door trims. A section of the original courthouse’s exterior wall became a bookshelf for the new judge’s chamber.
Interior Photos
Moonrise over the Saline County Courthouse.
The new waiting area for the Saline County Treasurer’s office
The new county courtroom features controlled access for detainees and secure passage for the judge and other court personnel.
The new judge’s chamber features shelving built into a former window opening in the exterior limestone of the original courthouse.
Historic side entrance on the south face of the courthouse.
The Veteran’s Memorial, another Berggren Architects project, is visible from the southwest corner of the courthouse.
A drone captures the Saline County Veteran’s Memorial, aligned with the entrance to the courthouse addition.
Restored bailiff’s office in the original courthouse.
The rear door to the district courtroom was relocated from the west wall (on the left) to be center on the gallery aisle, providing access from the new addition’s courtroom waiting area.
Front of the district courtroom.
Adjustable shelving was installed for the new county attorney’s office on the fourth floor of the addition.
Original county courtroom benches were repurposed to serve as waiting area seating adjacent to the district courtroom.
The server room is equipped with a dry-chemical fire suppression system.
The former mailroom, adjacent to the County Clerk’s office, has been converted to a conference room.
The county clerk’s office on the second floor was expanded by removing a wall that had separated the office from a storage room.
The original Treasurer’s vault was removed to create the new waiting area outside the Treasurer’s office. The vault was relocated and enlarged in the new addition.
A new corridor door was added to the second floor for fire separation and security.
The Saline County Veteran’s Memorial was designed by local students and actualized by Berggren Architects.
A new probation office on the first floor of the original courthouse.
The judge’s chamber was designed with the original courthouse exterior exposed. A window opening was utilized to create a built-in bookshelf.
Security screening at the west entrance to the new addition.
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