This article originally appeared on Justice Design News.
The Smith County Commissioners Court has just received a detailed progress report on the ongoing Courthouse Construction Project in Tyler, where daily activity now includes more than 250 workers on site. According to Stephen Flournoy, project executive for Hoar Construction, about 60 percent of subcontractors are East Texas trade partners, while those from outside the region are living locally for extended periods and contributing to the area’s economy.
Recent milestones include completion of the underground tunnel connecting the jail to the new courthouse and backfilling the 30‑foot‑deep excavation. Crews have also activated power and natural gas to the building. Exterior masonry is rising over the green water‑proofing layer, and window installation is underway. “Things are also changing drastically on the inside,” Flournoy said.
Air handling units for the bottom three floors are close to being activated, with the fourth through seventh floors expected to follow in about 30 days. Flournoy praised the collaboration among Hoar Construction, subcontractors, Smith County, and Fitzpatrick Architects, saying, “We are extremely proud of our team.”
Bradley Barr, senior superintendent for Hoar Construction, highlighted the installation of the gas meter as a major achievement and noted decorative elements now taking shape, including mosaics of the historic 1910 courthouse and Lady Justice.
Workers began fabricating the courthouse dome about a week ago. Barr said the dome is being built on the ground to ensure worker safety and project quality. The nearly 66,400‑pound structure will be lifted into place by a 900‑ton mobile crane—one of only two of its kind in the country. Installation is targeted for late March or early April, depending on wind conditions.
Despite significant weather challenges, including last month’s ice storm, only nine additional bad weather days have been added. Flournoy said crews have faced 135 potential weather days but claimed just 86, working “diligently every day to make up for those days missed for weather.”
The voter‑approved Courthouse and Parking Garage Bond Project continues on schedule. Phase 1, the parking garage, was completed in November 2024. Phase 2—the new courthouse—is expected to finish by the end of 2026. Phase 3, involving demolition of the current courthouse and creation of a green space extending to Broadway Avenue, is set to begin in January 2027 and conclude in summer 2027.
