A once-in-a-lifetime project for Augusta County is moving along and on time for completion by the end of November 2025.
On November 8, 2022, Augusta County voters cast ballots in a referendum vote on whether to spend $104 million to keep the county’s courthouse in downtown Staunton on Johnson Street or to spend $80 million and build a new courthouse in Verona for court services.
Discussion of a new courthouse for the county began in 2009 and resumed in 2022 after a state court order to move services and to no longer share a building with the city of Staunton. The city is also vacating the Johnson Street building by September 2025 after completion of a new Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court building on the West End.
Voters chose a new courthouse in Verona by 86.3 percent of votes while 13.7 percent of county voters chose to remain in Staunton. A groundbreaking was held March 15, 2024 near 100 Dick Huff Lane where the Blue Ridge Truck Driving School operated. The three stories of 122,269 square-foot structure will house the county’s General District Court on the first floor, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court on the second floor and Circuit Court on the third floor. The basement will serve as a detention area and for electric, fire and utilities.
“It’s going well. It’s almost like a meant to be,” said Candy Hensley, Augusta County‘s assistant administrator and project manager for the courthouse.
Construction will be complete by the end of November and staff will move in in December, which will make necessary the closure of county courts for a few days at least to allow staff time to relocate to Verona.
“There’s a lot to be done between now and then,” Hensley said, but problems are not expected.
The project has gone well with no delays on materials. Weather has delayed a few days, but will not impact the deadline set by the state.
“We are under budget right now,” Hensley said of the projected $80 million move-in ready budget, which has saved $300,000 by direct purchase of building supplies. Direct purchase means the county bought supplies direct from the building supplier and saved money on taxes. “So that ends up being a savings for the county.” The cost of the building is $62 million within the $80 million budget.
Construction is currently working on block walls, HVAC duct work and plumbing infrastructure. A slab has been poured for the first floor, which the General District Court will call home.
“They’re working on concrete almost constantly,” Hensley said of work that is weather sensitive. Concrete must be poured and set at specific temperatures to ensure the meeting of building requirements.
Most of the steel in the building is up except for the south end. The courthouse building’s main entrance is visible and towers designate where elevator shafts will be installed.
Carpet, paint and bathroom floor tile selections have been made. Furniture has been chosen for each office and courtroom.
“Everybody who’s going to be in the building has seen [the choices],” Hensley said. 
Hensley said that portraits will be moved from the old building in downtown Staunton to the new building and staff would like to have children’s art to decorate the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court.
Stakeholders. the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, Moseley Architects and court staff have all worked together to make the project possible.
Hensley said that no wild requests were made for the new courthouse building and all decisions were made with common sense.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why we work so well together,” Hensley said.
Moseley Architects is also constructing a new Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court in the West End for Staunton.
“The Staunton J&DR District Courthouse project continues to move forward on schedule. Roof installation is ongoing, and the building is expected to be fully dried in [early February]. Inside, crews are finishing metal stud framing, along with rough-ins for HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Additionally, the secure area block walls have been completed,” said Josh Knight, Engagement & Communications Manager for Staunton.
Both courthouses are necessary to meet the needs of court services now and in the future.
“We’ve built it for the next 15 to 20 years and it’s set up on our property to expand to the south [when needed] and to the north,” Hensley said of the courthouse in Verona.
Construction progress is viewable by live feed online.
Related stories:
Voters will decide location of new Augusta County courthouse in referendum vote
Augusta County Courthouse forum scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15
New county courthouse location: room for growth in Verona or renovate and rebuild in Staunton?
Augusta County Courthouse information session scheduled for Sept. 22
Augusta County Courthouse: The $80 million (or $104 million) question
Augusta County: Voters approve new $80 million county courthouse in Verona
‘A once-in-a-lifetime project’: New Augusta County courthouse expected on budget
Augusta County breaks ground on new Augusta County Courthouse in Verona
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Rebecca Barnabi
