An ornate fountain will greet visitors at the public entrance, and a 1,000-space parking garage will be built on the north side of building. To restore the building's exterior, workers will high-pressure wash the Hall's towering granite exterior. The renovation project has already been the focus of major media interest from news organizations as far away as Australia. Commissioned in 1925 as the nation's first consolidated judicial facility, the Los Angeles County Hall of Justice is a true icon of downtown LA's civic center landscape. Many remember it as the backdrop to popular television shows of the 60s, including "Dragnet," "Perry Mason," and "Get Smart." More importantly, it served as headquarters to the LA County Sheriff for more than half a century and, for a time, as offices of the County's Coroner, District Attorney, Public Defender, and Tax Collector. In 1994, the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake rendered the building untenable after 69 years of continuous service. Its closure forced the relocation of more than 900 workers, an expansive data system, and thousands of records and crime files. Judicial resources that were once centralized within the Hall became widely disbursed throughout LA County, and the building remained abandoned and untouched for more than a decade. Now, almost 20 years later, the Hall stands as a hollowed-out shell of its former greatness—its stately courtrooms stripped, elevators dismantled, and grand columns laid bare and exposed. That's because it is about to be returned to its former glory as part of a major seismic retrofit and renovation project led by the LA County Public Works Department. At a cost The barrel-vaulted foyer, coffered ceilings, gold-marble walls, elevators, and pendant light fixtures within the 87-year-old building are just a few of the architectural treasures that will be restored. of more than $231 million, the project will usher in a new era of prominence for the Hall. Public Works Assistant Director Jacob Williams said that, when finished, the Hall of Justice would be better than ever. When completed in late 2014, the neo-classical Italianate building will accommodate 1,600 County employees, and once again serve as the home of the LA County Sheriff and District Attorney. "Our function is to design and deliver high-performing public facilities for people and services to thrive," Williams said. "In this case, we're breathing new life into this magnificent and historic building by rehabilitating it from the inside out and from the top down." The primary renovation project calls for seismic retrofitting, elevator upgrades, and new electrical and mechanical systems. In addition, the Hall will capture the very best of new building practices and old world sophistication. Bio-swales are already at work on-site, filtering heavy metals from runoff while historic fixtures have been carefully preserved so that they can be returned to service. With 17 courtrooms and a County jail with more than 750 cells, the Hall was once home to some of the nation's most notorious criminals, including Bugsy Siegel, Charles Manson, Sirhan Sirhan, and "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez. The original cell block will be salvaged and placed on public display once the renovation is complete. The barrel-vaulted foyer, coffered ceilings, gold- marble walls, elevators and pendant light fixtures within the 87-year-old building are just a few of the additional architectural treasures that will also be restored as part of the project. From columns and flooring to walls and ceilings, the Hall of Justice is being refurbished from the inside out and the top down. Members of the Hall of Justice project team include (left to right): Denise Eggins, Moty Eisenberg, Alicia Ramos, Tennyson D-Sena (kneeling) Vincent Yu, Zohreh Kabiri, Andres Kortwright, Jim Kearns, Michelle Shots, and Ryan Kristan (kneeling). Not shown are Richard Brand, Ryan Krista, Kathleen Gandara, Ivonne Pena, and staff from Building and Safety and Geotechnical & Materials Engineering Divisions. Project contractors include Clark Construction Group and AC Martin Partners. When the project is completed, visitors will be able to visit the old cell block, home to the likes of Bugsy Siegel, Charles Manson, and 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez. Project workers will provide the Hall of Justice with a fresh new look by power washing away more than 85 years of LA dirt and grime from the building’s striking granite exterior. The eighth-floor courtroom will be refurbished as offices for the LA County Sheriff. Many of the building's original and ornate wooden staircases will also be saved and restored as part of the $231 million project. 8 9 All In The Works - December 2012 All In The Works - December 2012