Historic Temple of Justice gets a greener, healthier upgrade

| By DES Communications

Three people smiling for a photo inside the Temple of Justice
Jeremy English, Steve Bolinger, and Ashley Lipford stand in the Temple of Justice’s Reception Room. Bolinger, a DES project manager, worked on the renovation with English, a construction contractor, and Lipford, administrator for the state Supreme Court.

After a two-year project, the building reopened to the public in October.

The Temple of Justice was completed in the 1920s. By the beginning of the 2020s, it needed plenty of attention. The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) undertook a two-year project to upgrade the building's interior. It reopened to the public in October 2024.

Heating, air conditioning, plumbing, lighting, and security systems had to be upgraded or replaced. Old pipes restricted the flow of water and affected the taste. Court officials and staff in some areas of the building had no hot water. Historic library books were at risk of deteriorating due to excessive temperature swings. The state Supreme Court's hearing room got so hot and stuffy that participants in hearings were known to pass out.

DES project managers used an approach called Energy Savings Performance Contracting, which reduces future costs by making energy-efficient updates. Their work included:

  • Outfitting historic light fixtures with new wiring and bulbs.
  • Converting incandescent and fluorescent lighting to energy-efficient LEDs.
  • Improving building security.
  • Protecting historic materials in the state Law Library from excessive heat and humidity.
  • Replacing old plumbing.
  • Replacing outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

DES prioritized a quick turnaround for the tenants, helping building occupants complete a six-month move-in process in fewer than three months.

Now, temperature controls safeguard the Law Library's historic documents, furnishings, and fixtures. Efficient lighting, water, and heating systems are expected to save money. And workers and visitors experience a healthy indoor environment.

Chief Justice Steven González, whose offices were relocated during the work, said this of the newly completed building:

"The Justices and staff at the Supreme Court are happy to be back working again in the Temple of Justice. It is a beautiful place, built in 1912, fitting for us to carry out the judiciary's foundational duties to the people of Washington. We are pleased that this impressive 100-year-old Temple of Justice has been updated so it can serve the people for the next century."

The building is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. Plan a visit.

Learn more:

The Olympian: After 2 years and $33.8 million, see inside the renovated Temple of Justice