The Historic Lowndes County Courthouse
Year: 2024 Design & Honor Awards | Category: Renovation/Restoration/Adaptive-Reuse over $1M
Since 1905, the Historic Lowndes County Courthouse has been a focal point in the community, as it sits stately in the middle of the main square in the heart of downtown Valdosta, the county seat. Gladwin Vaughn Architecture completed the restoration and rehabilitation of the historic Courthouse into a Regional Visitor Information Center that also has the capability to accommodate court functions in the restored multi-purpose historic courtroom. Work included the repair and restoration of the building’s historic materials and features as well as adapting the building for modern functions with systems upgrades.
Design Challenge
One of the main challenges for this project was in the coordination and the sensitive installation of all the building systems including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and adding a new fire protection system. These building systems have the potential to negatively impact the historic courthouse, if not handled sensitively. The goal was to minimally impact the courthouse’s significant features. Given some of the original high design features in the courthouse, it was essential to conceal these systems as much as possible. But, because of the existing structural system, which included masonry load bearing walls with wood floor systems on the main floors with steel girders in the attic, the project used ductless air distribution and used utilitarian and secondary spaces to carefully run and conceal both horizontal and vertical runs.
Another major challenge was in the restoration of the metal pressed ceilings, which were significantly damaged and in poor condition. The building had lay-in ceilings with ducts and other infrastructure that ran between the historic ceiling and the lay-in ceilings. The building had over 13 different metal ceiling patterns, where possible existing panels were repaired, and molds were created using existing panels for replacement.
Project Information
Firm
Gladwin Vaughn Architecture
Owner
Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
Project Location
Valdosta, Georgia
Completion Date
10/23/2023
Architects and Designers
Céline Gladwin
Erin Vaughn
Structural Engineer
Crews Engineering, Inc.
MEP Engineer
Butler Engineering
Civil Engineer
Innovate Engineering & Surveying
Roofing Consultant
Heaton Engineering
General Contractor
Allstate Construction, Inc. / Cauthan Construction Company, Inc.
Landscape
Thomas Humphrey
Photographer
Nancy O’Brien, Sunlight Photography
