Charlotte County Courthouse Rehabilitation Punta Gorda, Florida
Client: Charlotte County
Location: 118 West Olympia Avenue
Site: An existing courthouse constructed in 1928 with a 1963 addition in Punta Gorda’s urban corridor.
Program Challenge: To restore the Charlotte County Courthouse to its original, historic appearance both inside and out, while updating its amenities sufficiently for it to serve as a modern government building. The renovations needed to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. The building is 16,000 square feet.
Solution: Rowe Architects’ historic preservation work on the Charlotte County Courthouse primarily focused on removing layers of alterations that concealed the building’s original structure and features. The rehabilitation was conducted in two phases. In 2003, Phase One removed 1963 additions to three sides of the building to reveal the courthouse’s original façade. Asbestos abatement and other hazardous materials removal were also conducted.
Phase Two began in 2007 and focused on the restoration and rehabilitation of the courthouse. On the exterior, the grand west entrance and south entrance were rebuilt, an entrance was added on the east side of courthouse, and the north entrance was restored. Inside, the public corridors and the north stair were restored to their historical appearance, and the original south stair was reconstructed using the north stair as a model. The first floor was designed for use as the Supervisor of Elections offices. The second floor courtroom was rehabilitated for use as an appellate courtroom and the remaining space was converted into office suites for the appellate judges. The roof was also replaced to remedy hurricane damage from 2004 and existing structural issues.
The project required a variety of detailed restoration to plaster walls and molding, mosaic tile wainscot, wooden doors, brickwork, cast stone, and other historic features. Additionally, up-to-date mechanical equipment and amenities such as an HVAC system and code compliant toilet rooms were incorporated into the project.
Rowe Architects’ renovation work on the Charlotte County Courthouse, was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in 2009.