Washita County Courthouse

CORDELL, OK

Soon after completion of the new Washita County Jail, Architects in Partnership was retained by the County to develop renovation plans for Courthouse building. The prominent Courthouse, which was built in 1910, is located in the center on the downtown square and has been an iconic landmark in western Oklahoma for over 100 years. However, the proud building was in desperate need of repair as many of the decorative and structural elements were deteriorating and it had become crowded, inefficient, and disorganized over the years.

The design solution accomplished all of the project goals, including reorganization of office functions, repair of structural deficiencies, addition of modern electrical and communications systems, and a new economical geothermal mechanical system. The most striking change to those familiar with the Courthouse was the aesthetic restoration, particularly to the public spaces, courtrooms, lobby, stairs and restroom facilities. The exterior received a complete tuck point of the brick façade and structural repair of the copper cornice the crowns the parapet, all of which reinstates the building’s original prestige.

The restoration of the Washita Courthouse succeeds in maintaining and enhancing the integrity of the original design, while providing modern upgrades that will allow the historic Courthouse to be used for another 100 years.