Downtown Salem’s Courthouse Square, which opened in 2000, closed in 2010 due to under-designed and compromised structural systems. The Courthouse Square complex is the main hub for the Cherriots public transit system featuring a four lane bus mall, and home to Salem Area Mass Transit, Hatfield Plaza, and several Marion County government offices. The complex also houses retail and office space.
Repair and restoration of the 5 story 163,000 square foot complex at 555 Court Street began in September of 2012. Since then Carlson Veit Architects has been working diligently with general contractor Structural Preservation Systems, LLC; Dalke Construction; WDP Consulting Engineers, BMGP Engineers; and Environmental and Engineering Services (EESI) on repairing and strengthening the underground parking garage and building structural systems. Structural repairs include seismic upgrades, column strengthening and enlargement, and concrete slab reinforcement in both the building and bus mall. The enlarged structural columns will be wrapped and strengthened, and structural concrete floor slabs strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Polymer.
Aesthetic upgrades are also being made inside and out including new bonded concrete overlay on the bus mall floor, and window replacement on the exterior. The interior of the building will receive a facelift with new paint, carpet, wallcoverings, and ceilings. The estimated date of completion is May, 2014.
