Former Courthouse Going Condo

The 109-year-old DuPage County Courthouse may be long retired from its career as a judicial institution, but it's been given a new lease on life courtesy of a partnership between the city of Wheaton, Airhart Construction and Focus Development. They plan to soon restore its exterior and convert the interior into luxury condominiums.

The iconic 112-foot-high edifice in Wheaton appears to stand as proud and privileged as the day it was introduced back in 1896.

After all, the old courthouse has a right to stick out its chest. It's not many buildings that make the list of the National Register of Historic Places and survive the turn of two centuries. If walls could talk, they would share tales of rich local lore, stories that have grown into legends.

Built in 1896 to replace the previous courthouse, which had become too small to serve the needs of the local population, the existing DuPage County Courthouse was erected on land donated by city founding father Warren Wheaton.

Architect M.E. Bell's goal was to design a Richardsonian Romanesque architectural gem. He graced the building's facade with red clay brick, sandstone with terra cotta detail and dormer windows, and added a handsome red clay roof. Bell's crowning touch was a clock tower, making it the tallest building in the county at the time.

The courthouse first floor was occupied by the county board of supervisors, coroner, surveyor and superintendent of schools. The second and third levels held offices of the states attorney and courts.

"The old courthouse has endured as a historical symbol in DuPage County for generations," says Alberta Adamson, president of the Wheaton Historic Preservation Council.

Adamson says, when the courthouse's clock tower was damaged by lightning in 1988, county officials had it repaired in response to public demand. outcry. And when National-Louis University purchased and the property in 1993, they catered to public demand that the building be respectfully preserved.

Adjacent to the courthouse is another historic building, the former States Attorney's Office Building. Constructed in 1938, this two-story structure is also registered as a Wheaton Landmark. Like the courthouse, the States Attorney's Office Building will benefit from an exterior restoration and interior remodeling by Airhart Construction and Focus Development.

The construction companies are preparing to transform the campus into Courthouse Square - a master-planned, mixed-use community.

Bordered by Willow Avenue and Liberty Drive to the south, Naperville Road and Washington Street to the east, Reber Street to the west, and train tracks to the north, the 6.1 acre property will include condominium homes on the property's west parcel and townhouses on its east parcel.

The courthouse building's interior will be converted to house six condos, while the States Attorney's structure will be renovated to accommodate office space and amenities such as a fitness center and a hospitality suite.

Additionally, three new seven-story buildings offering 182 condominium residences will be constructed north of Willow Avenue between Naperville Road and Reber Street. Fifty 50 Georgetown-style townhouse residences will be built between Naperville Road and Washington Street.

Sales on the courthouse units and the first condominium building are expected to begin this month, while first sales on the townhouses will commence this fall. Construction is slated to commence as early as late summer. First deliveries and the opening of furnished models are anticipated by the fall of 2006.

Two lesser courthouse annex buildings, the jail built in 1952 and a modern office building built in 1961, will be demolished to make room for the three new condominium buildings. The site's developers are excited that the courthouse campus' two historic landmarks will be preserved.

"These two revered buildings deserve to be protected and appreciated for generations to come, especially the courthouse. It's arguably the most recognizable symbol of DuPage County," says Tim Anderson, president of Northfield-based Focus Development.

Joe Antunovich, principal of Chicago-based Antunovich Associates- architect for Courthouse Square - said the courthouse is a worthy candidate for restoration and adaptive reuse.

For more information on Courthouse Square, visit courthousesquarewheaton.com.