Designed by Proudfoot and Bird, the historic Polk County Courthouse is the anchor of the Historic Court Avenue District in downtown Des Moines. Built between 1900 and 1906, the Beaux Arts Classical courthouse is unique in the state and region.
The $34.5 million dollar interior restoration brings the century old building back to life by uncovering and restoring much of its original details and architecture, while also serving the functional needs of a 21st century courthouse with modern office and support spaces for staff and new amenities for public users. The renovations also solved functional challenges by adding energy-efficient HVAC and electrical systems, providing ADA accessibility, and improving safety and security systems.
The four-year interior rehabilitation and renovations included:
- Cleaned a century’s worth of dirt/smoke/grime from all the existing marble, terrazzo flooring and wood work
- Historically accurate plaster repair and paint scheme
- Renovated and retrofitted historic lighting fixtures
- Lighting accents of the rotunda and historic lobby ceilings and art work
- Restored and refinished wood work of historic seating and judges benches
- Removed a patchwork of drop ceilings, carpet and paint
- Restored the courtrooms on third floor back to the original two-story design
The result is an architectural treasure restored to its original grandeur as a celebration of Polk County’s past while also creating a place of dignity, justice and safety for current and future generations.
