Justice Center redesign adds $180k in architect fees—third courtroom, more space

Teton County is teeing up a $180,000 change order to its Justice Center architect, Anderson Mason Dale, to cover additional services tied to a bigger, more complex building than what was priced in May 2024. The money would come out of the project’s owner’s contingency. See: Justice Center Change Order for Architectural Services Staff Report.

What changed: the county expanded the program to add a third courtroom, a combined municipal court/jury assembly space, a Victim Services suite, and a small jail administrative suite plus staff locker rooms. Staff also point to an added “early demolition package” for the old Hansen Courthouse that required extra design and coordination work.

The staff report says the building area increased from 75,000 to 80,120 square feet (about 7%), and notes construction costs are up roughly 20% since the original proposal—partly market, partly added systems and scope. The requested fee bump is framed as 2.8% for extended construction administration to keep the project coordinated through the longer, expanded build.