Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/218643
St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse by Godfrey Budd he new St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse on Wellington Street is located on the site of the historic Elgin County Courthouse. The facility will incorporate the heritage courthouse and consolidate St. Thomas's two courts: the Superior Court of Justice, located temporarily on Silver Street, and the Ontario Court of Justice, located on Curtis Street. "The Elgin County Courthouse is not just a heritage building," says Angelo Gismondi, VP project delivery, Infrastructure Ontario. "The whole site has been declared a heritage site, so this project had to be considered from that perspective. It has been very successful in the way that it has been integrated. It is unique." Gismondi says that the rationale behind the consolidation of courthouses, which increases the number of courtrooms and beefs up security, was to reduce delays and improve access to justice. The new, combined facility is designed to LEED Silver requirements and is in compliance with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The Elgin County Courthouse was originally built in the 1850s, but, as a result of fire, was rebuilt and expanded in 1898-1999. The 31,000-square-foot building is incorporated within the new facility, but remains architecturally dominant. The main entrance of the historic Elgin County Courthouse is now the main entrance to the entire facility. Besides the courthouse, the new structure also includes another heritage building. It is a one-storey Land Registry Office, which, because of its role as a document and records repository, was built to be fireproof. Like the Elgin County Courthouse, it is over 100 years old. "The new addition links both heritage buildings," says Julia Gersovitz, a principal at Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet et Associés Architectes (FGMDA). "One of the priorities was the linkage between the existing buildings and the new T St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse p70-73St. Thomas Courthouse.indd 71 building. The old courthouse maintains its primary position of importance on the site." Although security equipment had to be installed at the main entrance, the rest of the Elgin County Courthouse was modified in a way to retain its heritage character. "Some spaces and areas within the courthouse were given new uses in the design, but wainscoting, windows and moldings were retained and new infrastructure was carefully threaded Photos clockwise from above: St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse exterior, where old meets new; heritage courtroom ceiling; atrium ceiling. Photos courtesy Infrastructure Ontario. december 2013 /71 13-11-15 4:03 PM