Plumas/Sierra Regional Courthouse

Background

Built to serve the needs of both Plumas and Sierra Superior Courts, the Portola-Loyalton Courthouse is the first multi-jurisdictional courthouse built in the state. It is also the first trial court project to be fully financed and managed from start to finish by the Judicial Council.

The courthouse, which replaced a deficient part-time courthouse in Portola and a leased court service center in Loyalton, was designed to provide justice for both communities, which are often isolated in the winter because of snow.

The project was completed on budget and ahead of schedule in December 2009. The project team overcame significant schedule hurdles to get the project out to bid in time for construction to commence before the onset of winter weather. The architecture firm accelerated its schedule by 100 working days, and the building floor slab was poured and secured for the weather the day before the snow fell. These actions eliminated a delay of approximately eight months in the construction schedule.

The Portola courthouse is jointly run by court officers from both Plumas and Sierra counties and is equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual systems which may be utilized for remote trials.

Awards & Recognition