Facts

Location  |  George West TX 

Year Completed  |  In Progress

Type of Project  |  Historic Restoration; Interior Renovation

Services Performed  |  Full Architectural Services

Contractor  |  JC Stoddard Construction

Rendering  |  WP Visions

Thoughts

The Live Oak County Courthouse was designed by famed Texas architect, Alfred Giles and constructed in 1919. As Giles's final architectural project, the building exemplifies early 20th-century Classical Revival design in rural Texas, blending grandeur with functionality. In 1956, a modern new annex addition by Wyatt C. Hedrick was added to the Southeast corner of the building, contrasting the original's classicism with a low, horizontal extension featuring strip windows and a concrete canopy. A major roof leak in 2022 became the catalyst for a major overhall of the building, beginning with removing the mid-century addition and restoring the South façade and redeveloping the site to be more cohesive and appropriate for the building’s stature within the community.

The County first commissioned Fisher Heck to perform a condition assessment and Master Plan of the building so that may qualify for future grants from the Texas Historical Commission’s courthouse preservation program. This work was then followed up with preparing construction drawings for the exterior façade restoration, which would include reconstructed wood windows, re-built cast in place decorative cornice work, and brick repair. Phase Two of the project will include misc repairs and improvements throughout the interior of the building including a new larger elevator, accessible restroom modifications, and courtroom technology improvements. Phase Three of the project will involve site improvements throughout the property.

Awards