Peoria Municipal Court

A normal day at the courthouse would have the public crowd the lobby and queue into the hallway, blocking restroom and stair access. On some days, the line extended outside the building. The facility also lacked space for staff, juries, or those in custody. To address these inadequacies, the City of Peoria envisioned a modern interpretation of a traditional courthouse with an enduring style and expanded spaces for all users.

To accomplish this, the existing outdated and undersized 18,000-square-foot courthouse was renovated, and an additional 17,000 square feet was added. The updated program includes three courtrooms, a hearing room, a public lobby, jury assembly and deliberation rooms, administrative office space, and a secure suite for city attorney staff. Major upgrades were made to public pedestrian paths and interior spaces to ensure ADA accessibility.

A complex phased construction plan was developed to allow the court to remain functional throughout the construction process.