King County Courthouse facts for kids
The King County Courthouse is an important building in King County, Washington. It's where many parts of the county government work, especially the courts. You can find it in downtown Seattle, close to Pioneer Square.
This building, first built in 1916, is home to several key offices. These include the King County Prosecuting Attorney (who handles legal cases for the county), the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), and the King County Council (who make laws for the county). It also has courtrooms for the King County Superior Court and the Seattle District Court. The courthouse is located at 516 Third Avenue, near City Hall Park.
A special enclosed walkway, called a skybridge, connects the courthouse to the King County Jail. This bridge is used to safely move people between the courthouse and the jail. There's also an underground tunnel that links the courthouse to the King County Administration Building.
History of the King County Courthouse
The idea for a new county building started way back in 1911. At first, voters in King County said no to the plans, but then they changed their minds and approved them. The spot chosen for the building used to belong to Henry Yesler, one of Seattle's founders.
A Seattle architect named A. Warren Gould first suggested a very tall building with 23 stories. He thought the county would grow a lot. However, the county leaders wanted to start smaller. So, the building was constructed in different stages.
Construction began in 1914. They first built a five-story structure using steel and concrete. This part was officially opened on May 4, 1916, and was known as the City-County Building. Later, in 1930, six more floors were added. Even later, a three-story "attic" was built on top.
In 1967, the building was updated. Air conditioning was added, and its outside look was changed quite a bit. In 1987, the King County Courthouse became a special landmark in King County. This means that if future changes are made to public areas, they should try to make them look like the original building.
Keeping the Courthouse Safe
After the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, which caused a lot of shaking and damage to older buildings nearby, the courthouse was made stronger. This process is called seismic retrofitting. It helps buildings stand up better during earthquakes. After this work was finished, new murals and special designs on the marble floor were added to the first floor, making it look very nice.
The area around the courthouse is close to places that help people who are experiencing homelessness. To make sure everyone feels safe, especially people serving on juries and courthouse staff, the main entrance on 3rd Avenue was closed in December 2019. Now, only certain people can use that entrance, and special arrangements are made for those who need them.
