Photo: Casey Dunn
Travis County Probate Courthouse
PRESERVATION AWARD FOR REHABILITATION + SUSTAINABILITY
Travis County
Downtown Austin's 1936 Old Federal Courthouse is a classic example of the New Deal-era PWA Moderne Style. In 2016, Travis County acquired the federal building and tasked firms Lord Aeck Sargent and Limbacher & Godfrey, alongside Vaughn Construction, with its conversion into a new Travis County Probate Courthouse. Exterior work included repairing limestone masonry, delicate cleaning of cast iron spandrels, and fabricating aluminum replacement windows to restore the graceful profile of the originals. On the interior, intricate woodwork and historic light fixtures were meticulously restored. The project successfully upgraded the courthouse to become a high-performing building and is currently seeking LEED Gold certification. Owing to the fine work carried out by this project, the courthouse is once again a beacon of civic pride in the heart of downtown Austin.
Following the announcement of the 2021 preservation awards on October 19, 2021, the Travis County Commissioners Court, on October 26, 2021, recognized the Travis County Facilities Management Department employees Roger A. El Khoury, M.S., P.E., Gabriel Stock, AIA, LEED AP, and Homer Villarreal, R.A. for their outstanding work on the Travis County Probate Courthouse. Also, The Commissioners Court recognized the consultant, Lord Aeck Sargent, and their subconsultants and the general contractor Vaughn Construction for their outstanding work as well. The team efforts resulted in the New Probate Courts receiving the 2021 Preservation Merit Award for Preservation: Rehabilitation & Sustainability, an award given by Preservation Austin.
Below are photographs of the Award, Commissioners Proclamation, and a video of the Travis County Probate Courthouse history.
2021 Preservation Merit Award for Preservation Award Recipients:
Proclamation By Travis County Commissioners Court
History of the Travis County Probate Courthouse:
