Thompson and Litton has finalized plans for the new courthouse, which will be built on Pepper Street in Christiansburg -- the same block that currently hosts the existing facility.
Montgomery County Public Information Director Ruth Richey said overcrowding has been an issue since 1998, but plans for a new structure did not materialize quickly.
"The current courthouse only has three courtrooms and the courts have outgrown that space," Richey said. "That's been a number of years since the judge identified there was a crowding issue."
Thompson and Litton project manager Jack Murphy said his main focus was creating a successful work environment for the future.
"I'd have to say that the main thing about the courthouse is making it a more secure, efficient building," Murphy said. "The existing courthouse is about 58,000 square feet. The new courthouse is going to be just under 100,000 square feet."
The courthouse will be 98,500 square feet, with more courtrooms for the three courts that are housed in the building.
"The most significant difference is the current courthouse is three courtrooms, and the new one will have nine courtrooms," Murphy said. "That is three for each court, Circuit, General District and Juvenile."
Security is also a focus of the new courthouse. A tunnel will be built from the county jail to the new courthouse.
"There will be a connection underground from the existing jail to a secure holding area," Murphy said. "The only challenge is that we're working around existing properties that are privately owned."
Murphy said his firm is the third to work on the project, but the first to move forward with a plan.
"My company got involved in May of 2006. We've completed a comprehensive study and a master plan for the entire city block," Murphy said.
Richey said the county's initial studies were not specifically focused on the courthouse.
"The first study not only studied the need for space at the courthouse, but also for other county offices like the government center," Richey said. "The next study looked more at the courthouse."
In the designer's master plan, Murphy said there are also potential uses for the existing courthouse.
"Right now, as a result of the master plan study, the proposal was to convert the existing courthouse into a public safety building, which would house the sheriff and his staff," Murphy said. "It would also house an emergency operations office."
Montgomery County is still exploring this possibility, but Sheriff Tommy Whitt said it is clearly a necessary measure.
"We certainly need something," Whitt said. "The one I'm currently working in, I don't even have room for a staff meeting. We're bursting at the seams."
Whitt acknowledged the renovation of the current courthouse would have to work around the building of the new courthouse.
"We have to determine exactly how much construction can go on in this one town block at one time," Whitt said. "Looking at the grand scheme of things, if it can be done, certainly I'd like it done sooner rather than later."
Richey said the county would plan to take the next steps toward building the new courthouse, which involves selecting a construction firm.
"I know that the first priority is moving along with the new courthouse plans," Richey said. "We'll put out requests for bids in late spring of 2009, and construction could begin soon after that."
The qualified contractor that submits the lowest bid will be in charge of construction for the project.
Richey said construction costs are estimated around $30 million, and will be paid for with bonds.
"The total courthouse cost is about 30 million," Richey said. "That includes everything. The county issued some bonds in August that will pay for some of the cost, and bonds were sold a couple years ago that will pay for the rest of the cost."
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