VRF Meets Challenges of Historical Courthouse Restoration
Structure restored to original 1896 appearance without sacrificing need for modern comfort
In 1896, the citizens of Bexar County, Texas, built a magnificent courthouse in the heart of San Antonio. Now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this imposing structure boasts a stunning sandstone, granite, and terra cotta exterior. One of the largest historic courthouses in the state, Bexar County Courthouse features a courtroom with 25-foot tall coffered ceilings graced by gilded moldings and millwork and decorative windows placed high on the walls, which illuminate the courtroom and its balcony. Over the years, the ravages of time, expedient repairs, and multiple additions, including a conventional air conditioning system, degraded the appearance of the courthouse and its featured courtroom. While the conventional air conditioning system brought welcome relief to the people who worked there, the extensive ductwork and drop ceiling required by this system blocked the windows and balcony and hid the ornate ceiling.
Fortunately, the state of Texas recognized the value of the Bexar County Courthouse, which had significantly deteriorated. The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program provided matching funds for a $9 million renovation project, which was completed in 2015. The goal of this renovation was to restore the structure to its original 1896 appearance without sacrificing the need for modern comfort.