Abstract:
In May of2004, the historic Seneca County Courthouse in Tiffin, Ohio was vacated entirely. County commissioners deemed the 1884 Beaux Arts courthouse obsolete and unsafe, and all court functions were moved to other locations. The plan was to renovate the courthouse and link it with the new neighboring annex, so it could continue to serve as the centerpiece of the city and the justice system for another) 20 years. But there were problems. The money was not available for renovation, the building was in worse condition than thought, and the cost of renovation was more than initially expected. Tax levies to raise the funds were continually voted down by the citizens, and the building remained empty and unusable.
The abandoned building was threatened with demolition an uproar from concerned citizens ensued. Detailed plans for renovation were drawn up, studies were done, and the demolition was prevented time after time. However, funds were never secured, and in January 2012, almost 8 years after the building emptied, it was finally torn down, with the claim that it was the most practical solution. Now there are other problems. There is still no plan in place to replace the old courthouse, and the local court system is spread throughout the town in buildings that are not designed to house it.
As a senior architecture student and a native of Tiffin, Ohio, this project grants me the opportunity to propose a solution for downtown Tiffin, and design a structure that serves the programmatic needs of the Seneca County justice system and fits beautifully within the urban fabric of Tiffin. I have researched the history of Tiffin and the old courthouse, spoken with citizens of Tiffin to better understand their perspectives on the situation, analyzed the site in its context, and established a program for the new courthouse. I designed a building with the ability to evolve and to be sensitive to the environment. Finally, I will present this project in the form of graphics and a physical model to anyone else who has an interest in the project.
