Will County Courthouse – A Symbol of Civic Pride
For this 215-million-dollar project, the Beaubois team was contracted to supply and install millwork in 38 courtrooms. This included judges’ benches, jury boxes, spectator rails and pews, lecterns, attorneys’ tables, court reporter stations, and more. The courtrooms also feature walnut doors and frames accented by sidelights, at the entrances, wood veneer paneling, painted acoustical wood panels, wood baseboards, metal trim for hollow metal frames, as well as blackened metal accents.
In the remaining spaces of the building, Beaubois provided a range of solutions, from an elegant stone reception desk in Kansas Cream and metal baseboards in public hallways, to solid surface counters in the law library and waiting rooms. Framing the elevator and lobby doors, Forms+Surfaces metal panels contrast with nearby wood paneling.
To expedite the building process, architects made early visits to Beaubois facilities in 2018 to approve mock-up rooms, which allowed them to provide guaranteed dimensions. Millwork was therefore prefabricated for more efficient installation. The project was completed, as intended, in September 2020, thanks in large part to the excellent collaborative approach taken by the Beaubois, Wight & Company, HOK, and Gilbane Building Company teams.
The architectural design for this project was recognized by the American Institute of Architects’ Academy of Architecture for Justice and is one of only four to receive a Citation, the highest honour. Kevin Havens, executive vice president and director of design at Wight & Company, describes the building as “a contemporary and architecturally captivating building that will serve as a catalyst for Joliet’s downtown development, as well as a symbol of civic pride”.
