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Cass County Historic Courthouse
In October 2022, Cass County commissioners voted to obligate funding for the renovation of the building, which, upon completion, will reestablish the iconic structure as the central hub for the County’s administrative needs.
Since the construction of the Cass County Law & Courts Building on M-62 in 2003 left the courthouse at 120 N. Broadway in Cassopolis vacant, County leaders reviewed several proposals for the building’s next chapter, but had not found a solution that filled the community’s needs while also staying true to the building’s history. In 2022, proposed plans to relocate administrative offices — currently located in the annex connected to the courthouse — were met with excitement by elected officials and community members alike.
Cass County contracted the services of owner’s representative PlazaCorp, architectural design company Intersect, and construction firm Elite Companies — all southwest Michigan-based businesses — to carry out the project. Their efforts are projected to restore the building, originally built in 1899, in time for its 125th birthday in 2024.
County offices will remain open throughout construction with minimal interruption. Any impacts to parking or building access will be communicated at casscountymi.org, on the Cass County, Michigan - Government Facebook page, and to the local media.
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Window installation began in early March.
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Elected officials and county employees tour the building to see construction progress.
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Window installation began in early March.
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Elected officials and county employees tour the building to see construction progress.
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This space will eventually be the county treasurer's office.
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Elected officials and county employees tour the building to see construction progress.
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Elected officials and county employees tour the building to see construction progress.
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Wall framing is complete on the future office of the county treasurer.
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Stairs are framed from the first to second floor.
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Concrete is pumped to the second and third floor of the building through a window.
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Careful work continues on the north wall of the Commissioners Chambers.
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The first floor bathrooms have been gutted, with floors removed to work on plumbling.
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Workers use a pulley system to move steel beams from the first floor to the second floor.
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Legacy Steel worked hard in late-January and early February to frame out the stair tower at the center of the building.
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Exterior signage was installed to inform the community about the construction project.
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Elite Construction employees and partners work out of the third floor of the connector.
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RW LaPine is hard at work on duct work throughout the building, with the goal of completing one floor of duct work per week.
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Commissioner Roseann Marchetti shows Administrator Matthew Newton a steel beam supported by an original lode bearing column.
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Commissioner Ryan Laylin watches progress on the first floor from the second floor.
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Legacy Steel worked hard in late-January and early February to frame out the stair tower at the center of the building.
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Steel stud framing of interior walls nears completion.
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Project Manager John Walsh of PlazaCorp shows Commissioner Ryan Laylin the original cobblestone on the building's interior.
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Members of the courthouse construction committee participate in a tour of the building during early stages of construction.
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Project Architect Lindsay Reed discusses plans for the building with Administrator Matthew Newton.
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The floor leading from the annex has been stripped to be replaced.
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When completed, guests entering the building on Broadway will see a large staircase here.
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A contractor from Elite Companies talks with a USDA representative and architect Lindsay Reed.
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This photo looks out to Broadway Street from the second floor.
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This photo looks out to Broadway Street from the second floor.
- 1 window installation1
- 2 240308 staff tour-commissioner chambers
- 3 windows
- 4 240308 staff tour-vault 2
- 5 240308 staff tour-treasurer public
- 6 240308 staff tour-first floor
- 7 240308 staff tour-vault
- 8 240308 staff tour-treasurers
- 9 240308 staff tour-stairs framed
- 10 Concrete pumping to floors 2 and 3
- 11 careful work on north wall of chambers
- 12 bathroom
- 13 pully system
- 14 stair tower
- 15 4747ACC0-77AA-4216-8117-06EEFDFED0A5 2
- 16 Blueprints
- 17 HVAC duct work
- 18 Matt and roseann pointing
- 19 ryan looking out over second floor
- 20 soon to be staircase
- 21 walls are happening
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- 23 BECF17E4-EF35-4ABD-B2EA-9E620CBAA92B
- 24 1E103034-D067-4EB3-8DBD-E11C77C5AADD
- 25 IMG_1720
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Commissioners breathe new life into historic courthouse
Upon completion, the restored historic courthouse will be home to many administrative offices for the county, as well as the County commissioner chambers. Read on...
In the News
- Cass County Historic Courthouse reopens after $9.6 million renovation (WSBT)
- Historic Cass County landmark set to open next year (WNDU)
- Cass County Courthouse to be renovated and repurposed after sitting vacant for over a decade (ABC57)
- Cass County hosts historic courthouse open house (Leader Publications)
- Cass County courthouse to be renovated after 20-year hiatus (WSBT)
- $1.5 million grant to help fund Cass County Historic Courthouse renovation (Leader Publications)
Building Renderings
Below are images provided by Intersect, Cass County's architectural firm. They depict plans for three areas of the building — the main lobby, commissioners' chambers, and the central staircase.