Officials in Thurston County, Washington, are planning to adapt and reuse two buildings it bought in a $34.9 million deal to host the Superior and District courts in downtown Olympia. Construction on the approximately $15 million adaptive reuse Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings Project is planned to begin in 2027.
County Commissioners bought the 7-acre property back in October 2025 in anticipation of its migration. The current headquarters for the court system is located on a dilapidated courthouse campus that no longer meets the needs of the modern work environment. The aging buildings suffer from tight hallways, limited queueing, safety and security risks, inadequate ADA accessibility, limited parking and outdated utilities and infrastructure.
While the first services planned to occupy the campus include the county court system, the area contains several other properties that will contain other essential services in the future. The six buildings acquired through the deal will provide better regional accessibility, improve connections to public transit, expand parking availability and provide ample room for growth.
The county will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to secure a designer for the project soon, moving into the next step to finalize project elements and amenities. Considerations will ensure that the updated buildings will provide adequate space for court operations, public services and both visitors and employees.
Migrating to the new campus will solve several outstanding issues faced by the current headquarters. These include major security improvements, improved circulation and accessibility enhancements to all amenities. In addition, the site’s close proximity to major transportation corridors makes it a better choice for public transit, pedestrian and bicycle access.
Additional improvements will include an emphasis on energy efficient construction, using the more up-to-date systems in conjunction with enhancements to the site’s heating, cooling, lighting, maintenance and electricity infrastructure. The county will also implement sustainable design principles for materials, air quality and lighting.
The county plans to sell the old campus buildings to recoup part of the project budget.
Photo by Phil Evenden from Pexels
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