Montgomery County is moving forward with architectural work for a proposed new justice center as officials weigh whether to place a funding measure before voters in November.
Commissioners unanimously approved selecting Dallas-based Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, also known as BSW Architects, for the project during a July 9 meeting. A contract outlining the scope, cost and payment schedule will come back to the court for approval.
What you need to know
The selection allows the county to begin refining plans and developing a more reliable cost estimate for the proposed courthouse. BSW architect Charlie Goodman said the firm would build from an earlier facility study rather than start from scratch, but the existing plans would need to be reviewed and updated.
“We would start immediately on giving you cost estimates, imagery and so on, to get you a number,” Goodman said.
Commissioners have not approved a bond election or finalized how the justice center would be funded. However, officials discussed the possibility of taking a bond proposal to voters in November.
To meet that timeline, the county would need a proposed project cost and ballot language ready before the election could be called in mid-August. Goodman told commissioners the firm could provide a project estimate before Aug. 15 if work began following the July 9 approval.
The proposed justice center has previously been discussed as a seven-story facility in downtown Conroe that could include additional courtrooms and space for the county tax office.
Early plans carried a preliminary estimate of approximately $250 million to $700 million, as previously reported, although county officials have said the final cost could change as the project is further developed.
Now, the architectural services approved are for a site adjacent to the Alan B. Sadler Commissioners Court building.
What they’re saying
Some members of the court questioned whether there was enough time to fully evaluate the project before a potential November election.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray said the county needed additional conversations about the project and its timeline, while Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley supported moving ahead with the design work.
“I just want to hire the architect to get him started on designing this building,” Riley said. “That’s what I want to do.”
What’s next
The architectural contract is expected to return at the next Commissioners Court meeting July 23 under the consent agenda for approval. The court identified the county’s court facility fund as the funding source for the initial work. Goodman said the first invoice could arrive at the end of August and may total around $250,000, although the final schedule will depend on the contract.
County Judge Mark Keough said a broader discussion about a potential bond would be placed on an upcoming agenda because the topic was not posted for action July 9.
In the meantime, commissioners are also moving forward with plans to remodel the James H. Keeshan Building, a county office building being converted into courtroom space. County officials said the project could create one additional courtroom and provide temporary relief while longer-term courthouse plans move forward.
Also of note
Commissioners also approved an amended resolution supporting the creation of new district courts, a county court at law and a probate court.
