BBI delivered a phased HVAC modernization for the Alachua County Civil Courthouse, a 101,000 SF Level A secure facility serving the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, while the courthouse remained fully occupied and operational throughout construction.
The project required disciplined coordination around active court operations, secure access requirements, phased mechanical system replacement, and uninterrupted public functionality within one of the County’s most operationally sensitive facilities.
THE CHALLENGE
Replacing critical building systems inside an active secure courthouse.
The Alachua County Civil Courthouse houses judges, magistrates, attorneys, hearing officers, administrative staff, and essential operations supporting the Eighth Judicial Circuit and Clerk of Courts functions.
Because the courthouse remained fully occupied and operational throughout the project, construction activities required careful coordination around active court proceedings, public circulation, building security, and uninterrupted day-to-day operations.
The project involved large-scale HVAC modernization across five occupied floors, including replacement of aging air handling systems, boiler infrastructure, pumps, motors, exhaust systems, controls, and ceiling systems throughout the building.
Working within a secure Level A government environment created additional complexity around access control, phased execution, scheduling, and coordination with multiple operational stakeholders.
THE BBI APPROACH
Phased execution built around operational continuity and secure operations.
BBI developed a phased construction strategy designed to modernize critical courthouse infrastructure while maintaining continuous building operations throughout the 12-month project duration.
Close coordination with courthouse leadership, facility staff, security personnel, and project stakeholders allowed construction activities to be sequenced around operational priorities, access restrictions, and planned outage windows to minimize disruption to court proceedings and public services.
BBI coordinated:
- phased HVAC replacement
- secure access and logistics planning
- planned system outages
- active occupant coordination
- security-sensitive construction activities
- ceiling system replacement
- building systems modernization
- material deliveries and site access
- schedule coordination across occupied floors
The modernization included replacement of 15 air handling units, installation of a new boiler and flue system, 112 variable air volume terminals, 18 variable frequency drives, upgraded pumps and motors, roof-mounted exhaust fans, and replacement of ceiling systems throughout the facility.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
Critical infrastructure modernization delivered without disrupting courthouse operations.
BBI successfully modernized aging mechanical infrastructure while maintaining uninterrupted courthouse functionality throughout construction.
Through disciplined planning, phased execution, and proactive coordination, the project improved long-term building performance, energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and system reliability while protecting the daily operations of one of Alachua County’s most important public facilities.
The completed project achieved Green Globes Certification, recognizing its commitment to environmental performance and energy efficiency.
