Construction on the new Brazos County Courthouse Annex will move ahead despite its scheduled April 21 groundbreaking ceremony being canceled due to the weather.
Brazos County had a planned public ceremony to mark the start of the $71 million project, but announced the event would not be rescheduled so that construction can move along as planned.
About the project
The four-story annex will house roughly 140 county employees from multiple departments and connect to the existing courthouse through a secure pedestrian bridge across Texas Avenue, according to the annex’s construction management company SpawGlass. Plans also include a multilevel parking garage staff and public use.
County commissioners approved a $59 million construction contract in March, part of the broader $71 million courthouse annex project.
What happened
During the April 21 Commissioners Court, 361st District Court Judge David Hilburn shared remarks he had prepared for the groundbreaking ceremony. He said the project reflects long-term planning to keep pace with Brazos County’s growth.
The current courthouse opened in 1957, Hilburn said, and underwent renovations in 1982 and 2009. Brazos County bought the land for the new annex about five years ago and it’s taking roughly seven years from land purchase to be move-in ready.
Hilburn said population growth continues to place pressure on the local justice system, increasing demands related to family, civil and criminal law cases.
“This building, the new one, is the next hole poked in the justice system’s belt that’s going to allow and relieve that strain,” he said.
What’s next
Construction is expected to continue regardless of the canceled ceremony, with a tentative completion date of May 20, 2028.
