Photo courtesy of Steven Risting, 2022

Project Summary

In 2019, the City of Columbus adopted the Envision Columbus plan as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Envision Columbus plan focused on downtown development. The plan identified some catalytic projects for downtown Columbus, with one being the development of a new downtown Hotel Conference Center. The future location of the Hotel Conference Center is currently a surface parking lot for Bartholomew County employees and the Probation Department.

The Redevelopment Commission has acquired the referenced County owned property. The acquisition agreement included building a new Court Services Center in exchange for ownership of the property for the future Hotel Conference Center development. The Redevelopment Commission agreed to contribute $1,500,000 toward the construction of a new facility and to finance anything over $1,500,000.

Timeline:

May 2020: Atelier Risting was engaged to develop design and architectural plans for a new Court Services Center.
November 2020: The Redevelopment Commission issued a Request for Proposal for a general contractor, mechanical contractor and electrical contractor for the Court Services Building.
December 2020: Bids were received for the construction of the new Court Services Center and were reviewed for completeness and compliance
January 2021: The Redevelopment Commission closed and took possession of the future Court Services Building site and awarded the construction contract to Dunlap & Company and Barth Electric.
March 2021: Work begins on the Court Services site with the demolition of the former Eynon Law Offices.
May 2021: Human bones found at the construction site for the new Court Services Center are taken to the University of Indianapolis for further study and are believed to be from the Adena culture.
August 2021: The foundation is poured, framing is started and construction efforts continue
September 2021: Roof trusses are installed, interior and exterior sheathing completed, exterior wall masonry efforts begin and efforts continue on the site electrical rough-ins.
October 2021: Preliminary discussions occur regarding overhead to underground electrical line relocation. Exterior masonry nears completion, curb progress approaches 100% and additional efforts continue on roof installation and exterior wall insulation. Dunlap & Co. coordinates with Flaherty & Collins on mixed-use project and sidewalk coordination efforts.
November 2021: Service providers have been selected. Restroom plumbing is completed, masonry at the east and north elevations is completed, work begins on window frame installation, west patio foundations are poured, significant drywall and roof screen wall progress, continued duct work and electrical rough-in, and insulation efforts near 100%.
December 2021: University of Indianapolis provides an update on their skeletal analysis of bones found at the Court Services Center site. Evidence supports fragments obtained from at least 8-9 people. Construction efforts continue at the site: completed earthwork, restroom plumbing progress, drywall efforts begin and in-wall water piping and insulation is completed. Additionally, CRC approves funding to relocate utilities from overhead to underground. Once skeletal analysis is complete, the human remains will be turned over to Native American tribes for repatriation.
January 2022: Interior drywall is nearly complete and framing for composite metal panels has reached 100%. Natural gas and heating have been turned on to the building. The project is still on schedule with the projected completion timeline.
February 2022: Concrete floor polishing and office paint mockups, drywall progress is approaching 100%, ceramic tile is complete and the south asphalt is being removed for the parking lot construction.
March 2022: Concrete floor polishing started, ceiling grids incorporated with sprinkler heads, cabinet installation completed, sidewalk removal and reinstallation begins. Additionally, there has been considerable progress on the interior painting.
April 2022: Interior painting completed, lighting installation is nearing 100%, countertop and carpet installation is completed, initial punch-list inspection held – the project is nearing completion!
May 2022: Sidewalks, parking lot asphalt, and striping is complete. The irrigation system has been successfully installed, final landscaping and sod have been planted and installed, and the final city and contractor inspections have taken place. Additionally, furniture has been delivered and installed. The Court Services Center is move-in ready, with the exception of the IT transfer and a few remaining installations.
June 2022: Tentative move in date is pending IT transfer updates, which are required for the final fire inspection and Certificate of Occupancy issuance. Handrails and cabinets were installed in mid-June
July 2022: Received updates on IT transfer to take place in September. Final contractor re-inspection and Fire & Safety inspection, absent the IT relocation and connection. Remaining furniture was delivered and installed.
August 2022: City and County conversations continue as they relate to discussing the property transfer, payoff and parking conditions. Light sensors are installed.
September 2022: Card reader installation completed, IT transfer initiated, and tentative move-in date anticipated in October.
October 2022: The Bill of Sale and Parking Easement agreements were executed between the Redevelopment Commission and County. Additionally, the final re-inspection was completed, which allowed for the county employees to relocate into the new space and open for business at the new location.
November 2022: Final activity on the property transfers between the County and the Redevelopment Commission. The project is complete!