The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration
The Geauga County Courthouse has stood as a prestigious landmark at the edge of Chardon Square for over 150 years. The once-in-a-lifetime expansion and renovation project has been completed and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, commemoration, and community tour.
The $20.4 million renovation and expansion project encompassed approximately 21,500 SF of the 1870 courthouse, with the addition of approximately 30,800 SF of new space. Implementing purposeful design elements, modern security features, and advanced acoustic and technology components, the expanded three-story Geauga County Courthouse provides a fresh, safe, and secure environment for judges, jurors, staff, and visitors.
On the brisk morning of April 7, 2026, while flurries wafted in the breeze, the Chardon High School band welcomed attendees with music. Representatives from the surrounding area, including federal, state, county, and local officials, judges, law enforcement, community leaders, staff, and community members, gathered in front of the courthouse’s new west entrance.
The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration
History Has a New Beginning
Infinity Construction Project Manager Brett Bestgen gave ribbon cutting opening remarks, “We’re finally here after two years. No more blocked roads, loud noises, weird smells, or taking up your parking spots. As Geauga County residents, this will be a project we will remember for the rest of our careers for working on such an iconic building.”
“Our goal from the start was simple: respect the past while preserving the future,” said ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, NCARB. “The 1870 courthouse is a remarkable example of Italianate architecture, and we worked hard to ensure that this addition feels like a natural continuation of that legacy, not an interruption of it.”
Geauga County Commissioners Jim Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri, and Carolyn Brakey were joined by Geauga County Clerk of Courts Sheila Bevington, Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, Retired Judge David Ondrey, Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke, Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo, and Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand. The ribbon was cut to officially open the new courthouse.
Geauga County Courthouse Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
A New Courthouse Commemoration
After the ribbon was cut, attendees walked to the rustic Heritage House on Chardon Square to honor the historic courthouse with special comments and personal stories. The cozy event hall was a standing-room-only affair. Commissioner James Dvorak welcomed everyone and invoked a blessing on the new courthouse.
Heartfelt comments paid tribute to the legacy of the original courthouse while giving homage to the integrity of the legal system. A common theme was the acknowledgment of the personal weight of the decisions and actions occurring at the courthouse. For some, the most difficult and challenging day of their life takes place within the walls of the courthouse. The gravity of that reality did not escape any of the speakers.
“It feels like it’s home,” said Ohio 14th District Congressman Dave Joyce. “This courthouse is an important bastion because when the public walks into that building, they understand that justice is being served. That building shines as a beacon for our community that honesty, fairness, and the rule of law stand for something.”
Chardon Mayor Christopher Grau related a recent personal story of his family walking past the newly-completed courthouse, “My granddaughter looked at me and asked, ‘Who lives in that beautiful house?'” he paused as the audience laughed and concluded, “I told her Geauga County lives in that house. She was very impressed, and she should be. It is an astounding new feature here on our square. That courthouse is fundamentally beautiful.”
Completed Geauga County Courthouse Addition
“My husband and I grew up here. Chardon has a special place in our hearts,” said District 32 Ohio State Senator Sandra O’Brien. She read a senatorial commendation, “The Geauga County Courthouse will continue to have a praiseworthy reputation for its design and functionality. This facility has been modernized, allowing for more accessible and efficient spaces that can better serve its citizens. It is a justifiable source of pride and a fine reflection on the entire community.”
“It’s pretty humbling to see this complete,” said Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri, “and all the hard work that everybody did. I truly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this project.”
Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey said, “This building will stand for years, but its real value will be how it serves the people of Geauga County every day.”
Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke explained how the original building was no longer suitable for effectively conducting legal proceedings due to limited space and outdated technological capacity. “It wasn’t very functional for us. We had people working in spaces that were meant to be closets,” she said. “Security was our primary concern. I’m grateful to the folks who came before us who had this vision for a change.”
“I also want to thank ThenDesign Architecture,” Judge Paschke continued, “A big thanks to Brad Gellert, Lee Hribar, and Jen Murray for listening to us and working together to make sure that we had a building that was safe, functional, and comfortable for us.”
Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo said, “It’s spectacular. It really is. It’s so much better in terms of comfort, security, and anything you can imagine that we need to run court operations on a daily basis.”
“I grew up in this town,” said Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, “When I was in middle school, my job was to empty all the trash cans in the courthouse. And the ashtrays. But times have changed dramatically.”
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of this entire project,” he said, “We were involved from the ground floor. We were able to provide input to make sure that the security of the new courthouse was going to be top-notch. Our deputies are much safer because of the design, and I feel really, really good about it.”
At the end of the presentation, Judge Rambo distributed commemorative acrylic plaques, marking the unique occasion for the City of Chardon.
Geauga County Courthouse Commencement & Finished Spaces
Preservation Without Replication
Brad explained that they had to create a new building that was a natural fit and felt like it was part of the old building, but there were enough subtle differences that would clue keen observers in on the fact that it was a new extension. “We don’t have two-story windows that match the existing windows,” Brad said. “We picked up the feeling of the two-story height of the windows with big stone panels, which gives you verticality. But it doesn’t directly replicate the existing windows.”
TDA Interior Designer Jen Murray, NCIDQ, said, “I grew up in Geauga County, so I grew up seeing that building. It was fun to be a part of its extension. I really enjoyed doing what I could to make sure this project was extra nice for the staff and the community.” Using the features of the existing courthouse as inspiration for the modern design, Jen and her team focused on details like arches, woodwork, base, and door frames to mimic the historic materials of the original. For example, the porcelain tiles in the new lobbies paid homage to the original marble checkered flooring.
“The county was willing to go further with high-end materials,” said Senior Architect Lee Hribar, RA. “They wanted more stone and more details,” Lee explained how it was important to maintain the respect for the original building and its notable local history, while addressing the challenge of incorporating a sense of history without copying it. The two portions needed to feel connected without shying away from one being newer. “That’s how the lobbies are. You feel like you are part of the old one while being in the new one.”
Partnering with Infinity Construction, the design and construction teams took great strides to accommodate the needs of the judges, courthouse staff, city, and county throughout the project. While being sensitive to the community’s concerns, everyone involved understood the local significance of the building and made it a personal goal to show the utmost care to approach the project with due respect and integrity.
The Geauga County Courthouse Tour
The Courts Are Open
Later in the afternoon, after the ribbon cutting and commemoration, the courthouse was open to the public to tour the expanded building. Curious community members entered through the secure vestibule, walked the halls, and examined the distinguished courtrooms, where some interacted with Judge Paschke and Judge Rambo. The intentional design features and regal interior touches emphasized the reverence for the stature of the legal system for which the building serves.
Refined materials and a clean, pleasing palette of colors and textures enhance the courthouse experience for all visitors. Now equipped with the latest in security technology, safety-minded design layouts, and non-reflective acoustic treatments, the new Geauga County Courthouse will support the community for decades to come by providing a comfortable and safe environment worthy of the rule of law performed on its grounds.
The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration
Marc Cebrian
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