Courthouse Fifth Floor Remodel Project making space for CAST and Victim Witness

The County of Humboldt is pleased to announce that construction will begin tonight on the Courthouse Fifth Floor Remodel Project.

The construction project completely renovates the unoccupied space on the south side of the Courthouse 5th floor, making space for the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) and the Victim Witness program. The project will also replace outdated and deteriorated heating and cooling equipment for the entire building.

The vast majority of work will be conducted after normal business hours and crews are expected to work from 5 pm to 1:30 am Monday through Friday. All contractor forepersons and supervisors who have access to the Courthouse during this time are required to complete a background check prior to commencing work. Construction is expected to be complete by March 2020.

Currently, the District Attorney’s main offices are on the 4th floor of the courthouse, with CAST and Victim Witness maintaining satellite locations in Eureka. Staff conduct sensitive interviews in each of these programs where the setting is critically important. By moving CAST and Victim Witness into the courthouse, the safety and security of both programs will improve, as well as confidentiality. Another focus of the project is to provide an accessible space for those with access and functional needs.

Project Details

Work will consist of carefully demolishing the existing interior walls in the vacant space on the 5th floor. Outdated heating and cooling equipment currently housed in the 5th floor mechanical rooms will be removed, providing more space for the two DA programs. New climate control equipment will be installed on the roof of the Courthouse, and a new roof will be placed on the West hip of the 5th floor roof prior to installation of the new mechanical equipment.  The 5th floor public hallway will be remodeled with contemporary finishes consisting of new paint and floor coverings.

The existing heating and cooling equipment is original to the building and has been in near-constant operation for well over 60 years.  Much of this equipment has deteriorated from rust and corrosion, is technologically antiquated, and is plagued with recurring mechanical failures. The new mechanical equipment:

will improve the air distribution in the Courthouse;is sized for the current building demand;will use current technology;will meet the rigid mandates set forth in current California state energy efficiency standards, and;will save the county money in operational and maintenance expenses over the course of its lifespan.

The contractor will be given staging space throughout the duration of the project on the lawn on the 4th Street side of the Courthouse adjacent to the security entrance, as well as space in the Courthouse basement adjacent to the old jail sally port.

Victim Witness and CAST services will continue to be available at their current locations until construction is complete.