Pulaski Courthouse Renovation

Protecting a Legacy While Creating New Opportunities

Built in 1895, the Pulaski County Courthouse has anchored downtown Winamac for generations. The courthouse is one of Pulaski County’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of the community’s history. But after decades of cumulative decline, county leaders faced a critical choice: demolish a historic landmark or invest in its future.

When discussions began about the building’s future, county leaders, preservation advocates, and community members shared a common goal: preserve the courthouse’s historic character while ensuring it could continue serving the public for generations to come.

Following the Justice Center Renovation and Expansion, Pulaski County once again trusted Tonn and Blank to deliver a restored and modernized courthouse renovation.

Balancing Preservation, Performance, and Budget

The Pulaski County Courthouse needed significant upgrades. Water infiltration had damaged portions of the building, mechanical and electrical systems had been patched together over generations, underground plumbing issues persisted, and accessibility no longer met the needs of the public. At the same time, many of the building’s defining features, including historic woodwork, flooring, doors, plaster, and finishes, were fragile, irreplaceable, and required careful preservation throughout construction.

The challenges extended beyond the building itself. Early pricing exceeded available funding by nearly 30%, forcing the team to identify solutions that reduced costs without sacrificing the courthouse’s long-term future. Working closely with the owner, design team, and trade partners, Tonn and Blank helped identify value-driven alternatives that brought the courthouse renovation within budget while maintaining key features of the building, including restoring existing windows, flooring, and architectural features instead of replacing them.

Historic renovations rarely reveal all their challenges upfront. Through detailed preconstruction planning and constant field coordination, the team navigated unforeseen conditions while protecting the building’s historic character. Many of the project’s most successful outcomes came from preserving and repurposing existing materials rather than replacing them.

Planning to Execution, Every Detail Matters

Preservation remained a priority from start to finish. Selective demolition played a critical role in the project. Skilled carpenters carefully removed historic woodwork, trim, doors, flooring, and other architectural features so they could be restored and reused later. The goal was to have a courthouse that retained the historic appearance and character the community has known for generations while still meeting the needs of the community.

Original maple floorings, estimated to be nearly 100 years old, were refinished and color-matched to blend with new materials. Crews protected original mosaic tile floors throughout the entire project rather than replacing them. In the Courtroom, crews restored deteriorated plaster ceilings, historic woodwork, and carefully removed, protected, and reinstalled the original judge’s bench and railing system.

At the same time, the team faced the challenge of installing modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems within masonry walls up to 26 inches thick. By utilizing attic spaces, existing wall cavities, and strategically engineered openings, crews concealed new infrastructure throughout the building without relying on exposed conduit or piping.

Outside, teams restored masonry, repaired slate roofing, refurbished historic windows, and repainted exterior metalwork. Rather than replacing all windows, we worked with the owner to restore and upgrade existing units. By salvaging and incorporating the material of the original retaining wall, a longtime fixture of the courthouse grounds, transformed into the new entrance stair systems.

A Courthouse Ready for the Future

The courthouse renovation improved accessibility, upgraded building systems, consolidated county services, and addressed decades of deferred maintenance.

Today, the Pulaski County Courthouse continues to serve as both a functional government facility and a defining community landmark. County employees now have a safer, more efficient workplace, residents have improved access to public services, and the community retains a building that has shaped downtown Winamac for nearly 130 years.