Downtown Joliet Plans Groundbreaking For $100 Million Courthouse

JOLIET, IL — It's been more than two years since Patch brought you details of plans to build a new Will County Courthouse. Like the historic Rialto Square Theatre, the new $100 million courthouse is expected to become a remarkable architectural addition to Joliet's downtown. Over the past week, chain link fence has been placed around the perimeter of the soon-to-be-demolished First Midwest Bank building. In its place will be a new 10-story county government building that is expected to serve the needs of Will County-area residents for many decades to come.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, several of Will County's most noteworthy public officials will be on hand for an outdoor groundbreaking ceremony. The cast will include Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis and Will County Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt. The ceremonial occasion will take place at 62 West Washington St. behind the current First Midwest building.

"The new $100 million courthouse will be filled with state of the art technology and will accommodate the future growth of Will County, which is anticipated to top 1 million by 2040," proclaims a press release from the office of Executive Larry Walsh.

Patch reported in 2015 that the existing downtown Will County Courthouse off Jefferson Street was built in 1969 when the county's population was 250,000. Will County now has around 700,000 residents and is projected to grow to 1.2 million over the next 30 years. The existing facility has 23 courtrooms.

The new courthouse and judicial complex will house between 30 and 36 courtrooms, with a satellite courthouse in the northern portion of the county housing several more. The judicial complex will hold judges and numerous other departments including court clerk, state's attorney, public defender, court administration, jury commission, court reporters and the probation department.

Larry Walsh

Main image is an architectural rendering provided to Patch