Busy Courthouse Awaits Refinished Plaza Fountain, Barriers Part Of Renovation Project

Federal officials have tightened security at the U.S. Court House in downtown Spokane, but that’s not the only reason for delays entering the building.

There’s more traffic than usual as April 15 nears and harried taxpayers come looking for forms.

And then there’s the $929,000 renovation of the courthouse plaza, which is about a month from completion, building manager Barbara Smith said. Traffic is being funneled through a side door because of that project.

Early estimates called for the project to be completed by the end of last year, but that was before an early winter set in, said Al Alcala, project manager for the General Services Administration, the office that runs federal buildings.

“Everybody was so optimistic in September,” said Alcala.

The delays won’t add any cost to the project and the prime contractor, RRACO Inc., won’t be penalized, he said.

“Weather is an excusable delay” under the terms of the contract, he said. “Concrete has to be at a certain temperature to pour.”

In renovating the plaza, crews have removed the fountain and installed a new underground liner to prevent leaks into the parking garage below. The fountain was redesigned and new concrete barriers are being added to keep vehicles from approaching the newly secured front entrance.

The barriers will double as planters, and trees and bushes will be placed in them in late May or June, Smith said.

Building security has increased because of the trial of Charles H. Barbee, Robert S. Berry and Verne J. Merrell, who are charged with a series of bombings and robberies in the Spokane Valley last year.

Smith wouldn’t comment on the security changes other than to say managers “needed to come up with some alternative plans because of all the comings and goings.”

The single entrance creates a bottleneck for building visitors, but it also simplifies security, she said.

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