A private developer recently purchased the historic Teton County Courthouse in Driggs, Idaho and hired Trout Architects to assist in developing the plans for the restoration and reuse of this impressive building.
This 9,200 square foot two-story brick courthouse building was designed by architect C.A. Sundberg and built in 1924 by C. Zollinger. The courthouse was listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Working with Kerry Davis of Preservation Solutions, Trout Architects and the owner have designed the extensive renovations to be compliant with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and have submitted the project to the National Park Service for their review relative to the National Rehabilitation Tax Credit program.
The existing building still has most of its original interior walls and doors. The majority of these elements will remain and will be restored as needed. The exterior brick masonry is in reasonably good structural shape and will be cleaned and repointed. The cast stones on the parapet will be accurately restored and, where missing, replicated.
The existing windows, which were installed in the 1980’s will be replaced with modern fiberglass and wood windows that replicate the double-hung operation and muntin layouts of the original windows. The original remaining wood trim will be reutilized and restored during the setting and finishing of these new windows.
The large central stairway will remain and will be restored. A new covered exterior steel stairway will be constructed on the backside of the building to achieve the required second exit from the second floor. New restrooms will be incorporated inconspicuously into the existing room layouts.
A new VRF heating and cooling system will be installed. The line-sets required to each of the room cassettes will be meticulously concealed within in the existing framing.
New power, data, and LED lighting will be retrofitted into the building. In the public spaces replica period lighting will be installed and will be furnished with modern LED lamps.
When finished this building will be fully ADA compliant and still respectful of the historic characteristics and elements of the original building.
Current plans include a potential brewery and/or restaurant and coffee shop on the first floor with office spaces on the second. A new exterior patio will be constructed to support the restaurant or brewery.
Please let us know at Trout Architects if you are interested in being a tenant in this prominent historic building in downtown Driggs, Idaho and we will connect you to the owner.
