Mobilization for the Guilford County Government Plaza Construction Project is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 4, 2024. The construction project of the Government Plaza, located between the Guilford County Old Courthouse, Guilford County Courthouse, and the City of Greensboro’s Melvin Municipal Building (City Hall), includes repair of structural elements in the plaza parking deck, excavation of the plaza level to allow installation of a new waterproofing system, and a new landscape plan to renovate the plaza level.
On Monday, March 4 construction crews will start setting signages on the Government Plaza and begin to set boundaries for the project. Starting Wednesday, March 6, the Government Plaza will be closed to the public through the completion of the project. The closure is expected to be in effect through June 2025. The Government Plaza closure includes the Millennium Gate entrance, the Phill G. McDonald Plaza, and the David E. Hickman Plaza, and the stage area with the blue roofing. The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and the Law Enforcement Memorial will be removed and kept in storage for safe keeping. Once the project is completed, the three memorials will be returned to the plaza.
During the plaza closure, residents visiting the Guilford County Old Courthouse will be able to access the building by entering through the front entrance on 301 West Market Street, where the security scanners will be stationed. During the construction phase, the Old Courthouse plaza entrance will be closed. Throughout the project, Guilford County will always maintain an ADA ramp as an entrance to the county building. For now, residents will be able to access the ADA ramp on the right side of the Guilford County Old Courthouse. As mobilization and construction moves forward the current ADA ramp will temporarily close and a temporary ADA ramp will be constructed on the left entrance of the building that faces the Truist building. The temporary ramp is expected to be up for approximately four months. Access to the Truist parking lot will remain open during the Governmental Plaza Construction Project.
Beginning March 6, residents visiting the Guilford County Courthouse will be able to access the courthouse by utilizing the stairs near the metered parking lot on West Washington Street and South Eugene Street. Visitors will be able to enter the courthouse on the left side of the building, near the Melvin Municipal Building (City Hall). Visitors needing to use an ADA entrance will be able to use the Guilford County Courthouse entrance on 201 South Eugene Street. For questions and concerns about the Guilford County Courthouse entrance, please contact Taylor E. Chavis-Banks at taylor.e.chavis.banks@nccourts.org or (336) 412-7910.
Construction fencing on the Government Plaza is expected to be up on March 10. Full construction of the project including concrete demolition on the plaza is expected to begin on March 11.
The Governmental Plaza Construction Project contract was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on December 7, 2023. The Board approved a contract of approximately $8.3 million to Stone Restoration of America to repair the Government Plaza and plaza parking deck. The project is expected to be completed by June 2025. Once completed, the new landscape will make the Government Plaza more accessible to county residents, visitors, and staff.