Florida Supreme Court Building due a major facelift

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After 58 years, Florida Supreme Court Building due a major facelift

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-

43supremecourt,0,4012020.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

By Mark Hollis

sun-sentinel.com

Posted April 3 2006, 4:43 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Mold creeps along its cracked, interior walls.

Windows leak and rattle. And a bullet has scarred the metal front

door.

The Florida Supreme Court Building has stood since 1948 in the

shadows of the Florida Capitol in downtown Tallahassee as a sturdy

emblem of the state's judicial system.

While the marble-columned headquarters retains its scenic exterior,

the inside of the ornate structure that combines Greek Revival and

Egyptian Revival architecture is in dire need of a major renovation.

So legislators this year are proposing to spend millions of dollars

to give the courthouse a makeover.

``To me, it's embarrassing that a branch of our government has its

main building with water intrusion so bad that they've lost books,

that the window framing is deteriorating, and that it's got problems

with safety and security,'' said Rep. Kottkamp, R-Cape

Coral, who heads a budget committee that spearheaded efforts to get

Florida's No. 1 courthouse repaired.

The Legislature is on the verge of approving about $17 million on

maintenance and repairs -- about 10 times what it cost taxpayers to

construct the building 58 years ago.

It will be only the second time that there's been any significant

work done on the building that has been home to legal fights watched

around the nation, including the 2000 presidential recount.

Now, after quietly putting up with the buildings' quirks, Florida's

seven high-court justices and their 200 employees in Tallahassee are

thrilled about the potential renovation.

``It was built the year I was born. But I think I'm doing much

better than the building,'' said Chief Justice Barbara Pariente.

``Unfortunately, the maintenance needs of the courts have just not

been addressed.''

Pariente said the building's fell into disrepair because the court

didn't make it a priority.

``But what we have now is a multiple set of health and safety issues

that really have reached a critical point,'' she said.

Mold in the lower two levels have become an annoyance and health

risk, employees say. Concrete walls are insulated with cork, which

retains water. Geckos, which need a humid environment, have been

seen scurrying beneath lawyer and justices work tables.

Carpeting and floors in the law library is stained by metal cabinets

that have left rust marks. Leaky windows and a large wall crack

required documents to be destroyed, and prompted the removal of many

of the court's most important historical records.

``Pretty much since statehood, we have kept a continuous record of

what [the Supreme Court] did,'' said Craig Waters, a court

spokesman. ``We have lots of rare, old books, even Spanish books

from when Spanish law was important in interpreting land grants.''

Justices are asking that bullet-proof glass be installed for

security and hurricane-wind resistance.

Historians say the building isn't as bad shape as it had gotten in

the late 1980s, before the building was expanded.

Then, also because of a lack of adequate state funding, water

intrusion was a problem.

``It's the state's highest court and we should have a court the

people can be proud of,'' said Pariente. ``It's certainly beautiful

on the outside. We just want to bring the inside up to par so we

have a healthy work environment.''

Mark Hollis can be reached at mhollis@... or 850-224-

6214.