Renovations of the first floor of the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, which began on July 1 last year, are substantially complete, according to Francesca Blanchard, a spokesperson for the parish. She said the contractor for the project, Battco, will close the project this month after completing finishing touches and punch list items.
The Sheriff’s Tax Office and the Clerk of Court’s Office are now moving records back to the courthouse from their temporary offices. They will announce their official reopening in the coming weeks, according to Blanchard.
Blanchard said the total cost of the first-floor renovations was $1,965,000 of local funding. The renovations included updating the floors, walls, ceilings, electrical, lighting, communications, workspaces HVAC and plumbing in the hallways, Clerk of Court’s Office, and Sheriff’s Tax Collector Office. Murray Architects designed the renovation.
“The courthouse’s first floor has a more modern feel, with brighter lighting, fresh paint, and updated infrastructure,” Blanchard said. “While some of the building’s hallmark features, such as the brick floors and textured concrete walls, are still here, the floors have been polished and nicely reflect the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The display cases of St. Charles Parish historical items and artifacts are still on the first floor for all to view.”
Blanchard said that modernizing the offices creates a more welcoming environment for residents to do business with the parish.
“The most noticeable example is the Clerk of Court’s Office – the new office is brighter, and the desks built for the staff are more approachable and conducive to working with the public to receive filings and provide records requested,” she said.
Renovations to the courthouse, which began seven years ago, were completed in multiple phases and included modernizing offices and corridors, removing asbestos, upgrading all air conditioning units, and freshening the look and feel of the building, according to the Blanchard.
Renovations to the second floor included modernizing the District Attorney’s Office, Bonds and Fines Office, Courtrooms, and Judges’ Chambers.
The next project on the Department of Government Buildings’ agenda is upgrading the chiller units at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center so the units can keep up with demand during the hottest months.
The director of the department said the upgrade will make camps and events at the community center smoother and will also ensure that everyone who uses the building as a shelter during natural disasters is cool and comfortable.
