Hernando County Judicial Center Renovations

Brooksville, Florida

The Hernando County Judicial Center Renovation modernized and expanded the courthouse’s capabilities by replacing its outdated entrance and repurposing internal office space into new court facilities. The project began with the demolition of the existing exterior plaza, monumental stairways, and pedestrian bridge at the courthouse entrance. In their place, the team constructed a 1,356-square-foot ADA-accessible entry lobby with an overhead canopy and ballistic-rated glazing, providing a secure and wheelchair-friendly main entrance to the judicial center. Inside, the first-floor judicial wing was completely overhauled: approximately 6,220 square feet of former administrative offices were converted into a state-of-the-art courtroom with adjoining judicial chambers, creating a new high-capacity venue for court proceedings. On the second floor, a larger renovation of 11,607 square feet transformed underutilized office areas into five new courtrooms, each with its own in-custody holding cells and corresponding judges’ chambers. As part of this comprehensive upgrade, a new in-custody elevator was installed to link the holding areas on all floors, allowing secure vertical transport of inmates directly to the courtrooms, while the existing elevator in that wing was converted into a dedicated judges-only lift for private, secure access. Additionally, a new security vestibule was built at the ground level with a ballistic-resistant curtainwall system at the entrance, further enhancing the safety of staff and visitors arriving at the courthouse.

Executing these renovations in an active courthouse required careful planning, including structural modifications to insert the new elevator shaft and reinforce floor openings, all while maintaining ongoing court operations. The finished project greatly improves public accessibility, with a new ground-floor lobby eliminating barriers for disabled visitors and streamlining security screening. It also expands judicial capacity by adding multiple ergonomic courtrooms equipped with modern technology, allowing the court system to handle more cases efficiently. Security measures have been significantly bolstered – separating inmate movement from public areas and judges’ routes, and hardening the building’s entry points – creating a safer environment for all users. Overall, the renovated Hernando County Judicial Center is a more inclusive, efficient, and secure courthouse, fully equipped to meet the community’s justice needs and the demands of a 21st-century judicial system. The project was designed by Mason Blau and Associates.