August 10, 2007 Salt Lake Tribune

"Restoring Courthouse a Challenge"
by Donald W. Meyers

Utah County's Historic Courthouse is on its way to getting a face-lift, but crews may need to use new materials to restore that old look.GSBS-PC, a Salt Lake City-based architectural firm, is working on ways to replace and stabilize the 81-year-old building's parapet and balustrade while retaining its original appearance, said Donald Nay, assistant public works director.

"We have to determine how we want the stone replaced," Nay said, "and what is the most effective use of our resources."

GSBS already has surveyed the building's limestone walls and work has been done preserving some of the masonry below the roof line. Now the focus is turning to the railings and decorative stonework around the roof.

Nay said the stone up there is deteriorating and needs to be replaced. It's not a matter of aesthetics either; the stones could come down during an earthquake.

The County Commission approved $500,000 in July for GSBS to conduct an engineering study.

Brian Jacobson, GSBS' project architect, said the courthouse offers a unique challenge. Architects and engineers have to find a way to replace and stabilize the parapets and retain the building's historic appearance - without using the same material.

"We don't have the original stone," Jacobson said. "We don't believe it is mined anymore."

The original stone was quarried in Sanpete County, but Jacobson said an expert on his team determined that the stone now is unavailable.

Part of the study will involve finding material that looks as much like the original as possible. Jacobson said there are plans to recycle the old stone in repairs on the building.

The study will be completed in three months. Nay said the county has spent $273,000 on the project so far.

D. Robert Carter, an area historian, applauded efforts to preserve the building's historic facade. Carter said the building was designed to instill civic pride as well as house government offices.

"The people in the 1920s did themselves proud," Carter said. "They created a monument to the ages.