York County Courthouse

Scope of Work

Full architectural services

Berggren Architects remodeled, renovated, and completed an addition to the courthouse.

Location

York, NE

History

York County Courthouse, circa 1980

Designed by Wilson & Company

Completion

This project was completed in 2021.

The Challenge

This project is a result of an interlocal agreement between York County and the City of York to merge their dispatch operations into one thoroughly modern and efficient facility. The space housing this new dispatch center was to be located in the existing York County Courthouse. An addition was planned to accommodate for the space requirements of the new center and its additional workstations, staff, and amenities.

The old entrance to the sheriff’s department.

The north face of the courthouse before the addition.

The York County Courthouse is more utilitarian than other courthouses we’ve served. This project required a different approach to design.

Extensive reinforcing is visible from the thick concrete walls.

The masonry walls were slugged full of concrete for added durability in the event of violent weather.

A look through a thick concrete doorway during construction.

Lightning protection sits atop the entire roof.

Care was taken to color-match the brick of the addition to the existing courthouse.

The Strategy

Berggren Architects designed for heightened efficiency and security in York County’s new dispatch center. The building shell is complete with secure concrete walls, at times over two-foot thick, and ballistic glass windows. The roof over the dispatch center was designed with no penetrations to eliminate all overhead piping and avoid the potential leaks over sensitive equipment. A raised floor system allowed mechanical functions to run beneath while being easily adaptable to future improvements. A redundant HVAC was designed and installed, ensuring no gaps in operation. Lightning protection was also installed throughout the entire roof. This process was phased for uninterrupted use of the existing space.

The Results

The new dispatch center addition to the York County Courthouse was completed in 2020. The former dispatch station, located within the courthouse, was renovated to become additional space for the sheriff’s department. Along with improving security for staff, this project moved the Sheriff’s public reception area away from the county jail entrance and created improved circulation, a new board room near the public entry, a new jail laundry, new evidence storage, and improved interview spaces.

The new entry to the sheriff’s department creates separation between public reception and the jail entrance.

The new entryway after snowfall.

A look down the sheriff’s department entrance.

The York County Courthouse addition is attached to the north face of the original structure.

A new sidewalk was built as part of the addition.

Interior Photos

Dispatch: Before

Dispatch: After

Dispatch: Before

Dispatch: After

Squad Room: Before

Squad Room: After

Commissioner’s Board Room: Before

Commissioner’s Board Room: After

Break Room: Before

Break Room: After

More about the
Government Support Facilities
Category

Just like our country’s iconic government buildings, government support facilities hold important civil functions that require thoughtful architectural design. We frequently design various support facilities, often in service of our repeat government clients.

Historic preservation agencies and offices have also retained our services, taking advantage of our expertise in the field. Our team is happy to provide new design, preservation, and renovation services for government facilities looking to fulfill the needs and efficiencies of the modern day.

All
Arts & Cultural Centers
Iconic Government Centers
Education Centers
Living Spaces
Spiritual Centers
Government Support Facilities

Our Process

We listen to you

We are preservation architects, let’s get together and talk about your project. Once we know your ideas, we can start your project in the right directions.

We involve you in the planning

Planning projects is what we do. We’ll work with you to develop the best way to implement your ideas. Our written documents are the road map which is essential to ensuring your expectations.

We make it happen

When you’re ready to implement your ideas, we’ll gather together the craftsmen and women necessary and bring your ideas to life. Architecture is in the details. We will follow your project through completion ensuring all the details meet your expectations.
Contact Us

What We Offer

Restoration

We offer restoration and preservation of your historic structures. Using extraordinary materials and craftsmanship, our historic structures are a lasting tribute to the people for whom they were built.

Consulting

We offer consulting services to both general clients and professional clients in sharing our knowledge and expertise in the area of historic preservation. Our master planning and preservation planning prepares our clients to be better able to plan for the life of their historic structures and districts.

New Construction

We know the meaning of sustainability because of our in-depth work with structures which have stood the test of time. We offer sustainable and green new construction which is historically sympathetic, including in the form of additions.

Our Team

Principal, Preservation Architect

Jerry L. Berggren, AIA
Production Manager

Garry Martin
Intern Architect

Farheen Sirajuddin
Architectural Historian

Janet Jeffries
Architectural Student Intern

Brandy Nguyen
Architectural Student Intern

Alexi Caines
Media Production Intern

Kameron Dadgostar
Staff Architect

Leroy Svatora, AIA
Architectual Student Intern

Maegan Ludena-Llanos
Principal, Preservation Architect

Jerry L. Berggren, AIA

In 1977, Jerry Berggren founded what would become Berggren Architects, P.C. The firm began as a sole proprietorship in Lincoln, Nebraska and has since then been dedicated to the preservation of Nebraska’s finest architecture. The 1983 Jobs Bill was the milestone which introduced the firm to its most significant building type, the historic county courthouse. A project to improve the thermal efficiency of the windows at the Johnson County Courthouse in Tecumseh also initiated Berggren’s concern for energy conservation and an ongoing commitment to sustainable design.

In 1986, Jerry’s “Courthouse Trail” proposal to the state was approved. The Courthouse Trail experience solidified two career-long relationships with the Nebraska Energy Office and the Nebraska Association of County Officials. He continued to serve Nebraska’s county clients and in 2002 he became the recipient of the Honors Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This achievement was Berggren’s first nationally recognized award.

Today, Jerry Berggren has expanded his firm and employs professionals with abilities in historic preservation, architecture, interior design, sustainability, master planning and more. The future will undoubtedly hold more unexpected opportunities and challenges. He looks forward to each of those and you are invited to contact him directly regarding the architectural challenges you face.

Production Manager

Garry Martin

Garry has been working in the architectural field continuously since obtaining a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1991. He had previously worked with Jerry Berggren as an intern in 1989 and the experience piqued his interest in the field of preservation. Garry leads the production team at Berggren Architects, P.C.

Intern Architect

Farheen Sirajuddin

Farheen, a citizen of India, began her career with formal education in that country achieving the status of architect. When her husband was transferred to the U.S., she seized the opportunity to study at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln graduating in 2019 with her Master of Architecture. She immediately became one of our full time employees continuing to work until her student visa expired in July of 2020. Having to return to India, we thought we had lost a valued employee. Thanks to COVID, we have had to learn to work remotely. Farheen, now living in Canada, has once again joined us. This time as a contract employee and we are very grateful to have her back.

Architectural Historian

Janet Jeffries

Janet has a career history as an educator, writer, and researcher in the field of historical and architectural preservation. She currently works as the College Historian for Doane College in Crete, NE and is the Curator for the Crete Heritage Society. Janet is currently employed as the firm’s Architectural/Preservation Historian.

Architectural Student Intern

Brandy Nguyen

Brandy Nguyen joined Berggren Architects. in April of 2020. As an architectural student, Brandy was recruited in 2020 to become the next Larsen Legacy intern. During this year of his internship, he is taking charge of the firm’s outward appearance. Website development and polishing the proposal we submit are among his responsibilities. He is also becoming a significant help with the production of construction documents.

Architectural Student Intern

Alexi Caines

Alexi joined Berggren Architects in 2021. In her first year as a Larsen Legacy intern, her responsibilities began with coordinating office operations and research. Her current responsibilities include marketing and preparation of construction documents and design.

Media Production Intern

Kameron Dadgostar

Kameron joined Berggren Architects in September of 2022 as a Media Production Intern. Responsibilities include creating digital videos for the company, filming footage on site of current projects, website development as well as creating and updating existing content and project information.

Staff Architect

Leroy Svatora, AIA

Leroy has been continuously involved in the practice of Architecture since receiving his Master’s Degree in Architecture from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1977. He began working part-time in an architectural office prior to graduation and worked briefly with Jerry in the 1980’s. After leaving Jerry’s office, he became licensed in the State of Nebraska, and worked for other firms in Lincoln on a variety of project types and scales. Since then, he has returned to assist Berggren Architects once more.

Architectual Student Intern

Maegan Ludena-Llanos

Berggren Architects welcomed Maegan in 2022. Her duties as a Larsen Legacy assistant started out with organizing the offices’ activities and conducting research. Her current duties include overseeing QuickBooks, setting up and maintaining workplace supplies, and serves as our office’s front-facing representative.

Get in Touch

Learn More