Historic Utah County Courthouse, Provo
Things to see in Provo Utah
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Utah County Historic Courthouse
51 S University Ave Provo, UT The Courthouse's architect visited various public buildings in California, Oregon, and Washington including several city and county offices. The Neoclassic Yolo County courthouse in Woodland, California was selected as the model for the new Utah County city-county building.
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Utah County Historic Courthouse
The Provo City and County Building, now known as the Historic Utah County Courthouse, is a stunning example of Neoclassical architecture. Built between 1920 and 1926, this two-and-a-half story building is constructed from oolitic limestone from Sanpete County and granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The building was designed by Joseph Nelson, who traveled with a committee to the West Coast to gather inspiration for the design. The contractors for the project were Rudine and Chytraus.
One of the standout features of the building is the sculpture grouping within the pediment, which was designed by Joseph Nelson and executed by sculptor Joseph Conradi. The central figure of justice is surrounded by female figures representing the arts and industries of Utah County and Provo City, including horticulture, dairying, mining, livestock, farming, music, sculpture, industry, letters, and painting.
Inside, the central two-story foyer boasts a painted arched ceiling and a stained-glass skylight. The stairs at the rear of the central pavilion curve upward to the mezzanine, while two long, narrow atria with coffered ceilings are accented with stained glass panels below skylights. The floors throughout the building are made of Alaskan marble.
Overall, the Historic Utah County Courthouse is a beautiful and ornately decorated building that showcases the best of Neoclassical architecture. Its sculptural elements and decorative details make it a true architectural gem in the heart of Provo City.
The Provo City and County Building, now known as the Historic Utah County Courthouse, is a stunning example of Neoclassical architecture. Built between 1920 and 1926, this two-and-a-half story building is constructed from oolitic limestone from Sanpete County and granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The building was designed by Joseph Nelson, who traveled with a committee to the West Coast to gather inspiration for the design. The contractors for the project were Rudine and Chytraus.
One of the standout features of the building is the sculpture grouping within the pediment, which was designed by Joseph Nelson and executed by sculptor Joseph Conradi. The central figure of justice is surrounded by female figures representing the arts and industries of Utah County and Provo City, including horticulture, dairying, mining, livestock, farming, music, sculpture, industry, letters, and painting.
Inside, the central two-story foyer boasts a painted arched ceiling and a stained-glass skylight. The stairs at the rear of the central pavilion curve upward to the mezzanine, while two long, narrow atria with coffered ceilings are accented with stained glass panels below skylights. The floors throughout the building are made of Alaskan marble.
Overall, the Historic Utah County Courthouse is a beautiful and ornately decorated building that showcases the best of Neoclassical architecture. Its sculptural elements and decorative details make it a true architectural gem in the heart of Provo City.
Limestone Exterior Preservation
Provo's arid climate posed a challenge to add a preservation coating. High desert sun, hot walls and humidity as low as 10% meant that the natural stone treatments could evaporate before they had a chance to penetrate. To avoid evaporation, the crews timed applications so that they were always in shade, and on walls that had either cooled down or had not yet gotten hot. By project's end, the team had strengthened and weatherproofed nearly 25,000 square feet of historic limestone -- preserving appearance and improving durability. |
2005 - 2020: 15 Year Renovation Project
The courthouse was first remodeled in 1990 to bring it up to seismic standards. As stone building, especially limestone, the courthouse will always need maintenance to keep the stone from deteriorating. Since 2005, Utah County has been working on an approximately $20 million project to take care of the courthouse’s crumbling exterior. First Phase: The existing limestone parapet and balustrade system was replaced with a terra cotta system (hardened clay.) The roof in those areas was also replaced. Second Phase: The stairs are constructed of concrete and topped with granite. However, the concrete structure underneath had deteriorated to such a point that it “literally had lost a lot of its structural capabilities.” Workers took note of where each piece of granite was located before tearing it off to get at the concrete structure underneath. The concrete portion of the stairs was rebuilt, and the original granite pieces — cleaned and reshaped — were placed on top of the concrete. |
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Public Rental Space
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Utah County Courthouse Historic Tree
In May of 2000, the County Commission unveiled a monument explaining the tree and its long history.
It was said the elm was an experimental tree created by budding different trees together and the gift-giver called the tree a Weeping American Elm. The nursery owner came to Provo several times to check the elm during its tender years. That the tree is rare is echoed by former County Engineer, Clyde Naylor, who indicated that it is the only known tree of its kind in the United States. Landscape experts have not been able to find another one like it. Additionally, the tree has never been successfully cloned or reproduced. Seedlings from the tree have not grown into the same kind of tabletop shape. Utah County |
A Historic Tree Worth Visiting
The plaque below this tree behind the courthouse reads: "The exceedingly rare Ulmus Americana tree (also known as a White Elm or a Weeping American Elm) was planted in 1927 by Moroni Wilford (Roni) Christopherson of Spanish Fork, Utah. Roni was an employee of Utah County for twenty-seven years. "Sometime in 1927, the county commissioners sent Roni and Elmer Pulley to Ogden to buy trees, shrubs, and flowers for the Utah County Couthouse grounds as a landscaping project. The nursery owner gave Roni this tree as a gift. The tree was an experimental ornamental tree created by budding different trees together. "Roni chose to plant his gift tree east of the new Utah County Courthouse where people could stop and admire its beauty. The nursery owner came to Provo several times to check the tree in its growing state. The nursery owner called the tree a Weeping American Elm." Rather than growing up, this tree grows outward. The branches are spread out over a large area and metal poles have been placed to help support the massive limbs. |
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Denise Martin (801) 602-9552 | Team@HomeRealty.com
Denise Martin (801) 602-9552 | Team@HomeRealty.com
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