The Karnes County Courthouse Restoration project represents the culmination of a ten plus year effort to return a small Texas County’s beloved courthouse back to its original 1894 glory. The project was spearheaded by the unwavering support of the local historical society and the County government.

One of the goals for the project, other than fully restoring the building, was to ensure the project would have a positive impact on the local community. Our first opportunity came during the programming phase where we worked with the County to establish a building committee of public and private officials to oversee the design and construction of the project. Maximizing the building’s daily activity and community use became the primary emphasis in determining which departments would occupy the building after construction.

The second step toward positive community interaction involved the site design, specifically on the north end of the property. A deteriorating, mid-century jail facility and associated asphalt parking lot were determined to be unsalvageable and demolished. The replacement solution became a unique civic park where local citizens could gather throughout the year and celebrate events and activities such as Founders Day, Downtown Street Dance, Farmers Market, picnics and games. Such an urban public space had not currently existed previously within the city.

The final step came with the reconstruction of the clocktower. The new tower restores the building’s landmark status that can be seen from miles away and it’s hourly chimes are a welcome addition to daily activities within the city.