CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Construction is underway to reskin the Nueces County Courthouse Building in Corpus Christi, a 12-story tower built in 1977.

While the building’s structure has stood the test of time, its façade has deteriorated. Over the years, water has leaked into the building, creating mildew. In 2019, a piece of travertine stone from the building’s facade fell and cracked one of the atrium's three-pane windows. The county erected scaffolding, plywood, and safety netting to protect the building’s exterior and pedestrians.

Over the next year, Nueces County, in partnership with planning, engineering, and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc. (LAN), Richter Architects, and Phoenix 1 Restoration & Construction, will remove the existing travertine stone and replace the façade with new travertine. Other elements of the building shell, such as window insulation and caulking, will be replaced. The façade will also be power washed.

The courthouse will remain occupied and fully functional during the project. An estimated 20 percent of stone from the building will be salvaged and used on other buildings owned by the county.

“Once completed, the project will substantially increase the building’s serviceability and life, enhance safety, and preserve the aesthetics and quality of the original building,” said Kyle LeBlanc, PE, LAN’s Program Manager. “The project is also a key piece of the revitalization efforts that is currently underway in downtown Corpus Christi.”

The $6.7-million project will be completed in February 2022.