Planning Commission Approves New Windows for County Courthouse
Citizens panel approves $1.6 Million project
Last week, the City of Troy’s Planning Commission met for the first time in 2025, and as their custom, their work wasn’t highlighted so much by issues of planning and zoning, but rather this group of citizens was faced with making a decision about historic preservation practices, and in this particular meeting, historic preservation on the most inconic building in the entire county, the Miami County Courthouse.
The courthouse, located at 215 West Main Street, is a historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned by the people, with the Miami County Board of Commissioners acting as the responsible authority for the building. Generally, governmental agencies are exempt from local zoning codes, but the Commissioners, acting as good neighbors, brought their proposal in front of the city’s planning commission.
The building is currently in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation, with nearly all the work taking place inside the building. However, window replacements are an exterior improvement and has traditionally been under the purview of the commission. The county’s proposal involved replacing approximately 100 windows, which are currently in poor condition, with aluminum-framed windows designed to replicate the appearance of the original wood windows.
The courthouse's existing wood windows were described as being in a state of significant disrepair, with issues such as rotting, warping, and non-functionality. Most of the windows are unable to open due to their deteriorated condition. This has resulted in poor energy efficiency and increased maintenance costs, making replacement necessary. The commission emphasized that while preserving the historical integrity of the building is important, practical considerations like energy efficiency and functionality for a government building in active use must also be addressed.
The proposed replacement windows will be aluminum-framed but are custom-designed to match the profiles and dimensions of the original wood windows. They will include energy-efficient glazing to improve heating and cooling efficiency and enhance occupant comfort. Additionally, security considerations were incorporated into the design. For example, first-floor windows will feature low-iron laminated glass to meet security requirements for voting equipment stored in the building, while second- and third-floor windows will use tempered glass.
The decision to use aluminum instead of wood was influenced by both cost and maintenance factors. The estimated cost for replacing the windows with aluminum frames is approximately $1.6 million, representing a $1.4 million savings compared to using wood replacements. Furthermore, aluminum windows require less ongoing maintenance than wood, which would reduce long-term costs for the county.
The commission discussed concerns about deviating from wood-to-wood replacements but ultimately noted that precedents had been set in similar cases where non-wood materials were approved due to practical considerations. Staff recommended approval of the project as it met several design guidelines outlined in the city's design manual.
Representatives from the Miami County Commissioner’s Office presented details about the project during the meeting. They highlighted that the courthouse remains an active government building rather than solely a historical landmark, necessitating practical upgrades like window replacements for energy efficiency and functionality. They also noted that while most of the new windows would replicate single-hung designs like the originals, modern features such as limiters would be added to comply with current building codes.
The final decision of the Troy Planning Commission approved replacing the courthouse's deteriorated wood windows with aluminum-framed alternatives that closely mimic their original appearance. This decision balances historical preservation with modern needs for energy efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness in maintaining an active government facility.
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Planning Commission used common sense! Personal experience. TCW, when remodeling/restoring the CAS Building(one East Main St), was faced with a similar problem. Because TCW was accepting CDBG grants and was eligible for a Historic Tax Credit($107,000) to supplement Bank financing, the 2nd and 3rd floor wooden single pane windows had to be “restored” at a significant extra cost over modern efficient windows (like the courthouse proposed new windows). Restored windows “look nice”, but aren’t energy efficient nor do they have modern day functionality. What a shame and waste!