'Amazing' New Will County Courthouse Opens: 10 Photos

JOLIET, IL — Less than three years after Will County judges and local politicians braved the cold weather in mid-December 2017 to mark the groundbreaking of the new Will County Courthouse, 100 dignitaries gathered again, Friday, to mark the ribbon-cutting.

Will County's new 10-story courthouse in downtown Joliet at the site of the former First Midwest Bank property is done. The 38 new courtrooms are set to open Monday, Nov. 2, barring the unforeseen.

On Friday, Will County's long-time Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt oversaw the event. The speakers included Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., Will County Board member Mike Fricilone, Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan, Will County Interim Executive Denise Winfrey and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, who is up for retention before the voters of Illinois, in the Nov. 3 general elections.

To adhere to social distancing regulations, 60 attendees were seated on the main floor while another 40 were seated on the second floor balcony. Everyone wore a mask while inside the new courthouse during the 45-minute ceremony.

"This is a momentous day for Will County," Winfrey told everyone.

Among the Will County politicians in attendance Friday were Sheriff Mike Kelley, State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, Clerk of Circuit Court Andrea Chasteen, County Auditor Duffy Blackburn and County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry.

Judge Schoenstedt urged all the judges in attendance to remember the importance of this new courthouse building: "providing justice for all."

The Will County Sheriff's Office honor guard opened the event and Lincoln-Way West High School Chorale performed the National Anthem.

A total of 1,700 men and women built Will County's new 10-story courthouse over the past three years. The building features terrazzo floors and solar panels. There are escalators from the first to second floor and from the second to third floor. There is also an in-house eatery, Schoenstedt told everyone.

Wight & Company was the design and construction team. Gilbane was construction manager and HOK served as court design architect.

The first floor will have a larger jury commission room. Lower level floors will contain offices and courtrooms for criminal misdemeanor, civil small claims, and adult probation courts. The fourth and fifth floor will hold criminal felony courts, the public defender's office and a small cafe. Floors six and seven will include family courts, the eighth and ninth floors include additional courts, and the tenth floor will hold a grand jury.

"It's an amazing day for Will County," Will County trial courts administrator Roger Holland told Joliet Patch.