The Washington Law Library lobby, which has a dark green carpet and a brown wooden table in the middle of the room, with brown wooden bookshelves on both sides of the table. A large chandelier hangs above the front desk, where a person is talking to two clerks.

How we made the 100-year-old Temple of Justice greener, healthier

Learn how DES upgraded the historic Temple of Justice to be more energy-efficient and provide staff and visitors a more comfortable experience.

Challenge

The Temple of Justice was erected at the State Capitol more than a century ago. To continue to serve its occupants and preserve vital holdings in the Washington State Law Library, the building needed extensive updates.

Heating, air conditioning, plumbing, lighting and security systems, much of it more than 30 years old, had to be upgraded or replaced. Galvanized pipes had corroded, restricting water flow. 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.

Solution

In 2021, with funding from the state capital budget, DES began a two-year restoration of the building’s interior. While the building’s tenants moved to temporary quarters, DES project managers led the work, which included:

  • Outfitting historic light fixtures with new wiring and bulbs and converting incandescent and fluorescent lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. 
  • Improving building security, including the installation of safety barriers.
  • Protecting historic materials in the state Law Library from excessive heat and humidity.
  • Replacing old plumbing equipment that restricted water flow and affected the water’s taste and smell.
  • Replacing outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and fixtures.
    Three people smiling for a picture in front of three oil painting portraits inside a room with a high ceiling, white and beige walls, a dark red carpet, and old fashioned furniture.
    Left to right: Jeremy English, Steve Bolinger, and Ashley Lipford stand in the Reception Room of the Washington State Supreme Court, inside the historic Temple of Justice building on the state Capitol Campus. Portraits by the late Alfredo Arreguín of three Supreme Court justices—Charles Z. Smith, Mary I. Yu, and Steven C. González—hang on the wall behind them. Bolinger, a DES project manager, worked with Supreme Court Administrator Lipford, construction contractor English and others to complete the two-year renovation of this historic building.

Outcome

In planning this work, DES and the project team chose an overall approach called Energy Savings Performance Contracting, designed to reduce future costs by making energy-efficient updates.

DES also prioritized a quick turnaround for the tenants. Building occupants completed a six-month move-in process in fewer than three months.

The building reopened in October. 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.

“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.”

- Chief Justice Steven González

Learn more

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

UMC: Revitalizing the Temple of Justice: A Beacon of Sustainability and Innovation

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

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