STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Construction on the new Judicial Center in Glasgow continues to advance as the project moves through critical structural phases.
The Barren County Judicial Center Project Development Board met by Zoom on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and reported that work is progressing well on the multi-million dollar facility. A quorum of voting members was present, including Barren County Judge-Executive and board chair Jamie Bewley Byrd, Barren District Judge Gabe Pendleton, Barren County Bar representative Rich Alexander, citizen representative Joan Norris and Barren Circuit Court Clerk Julie Wright Jolly.
Zoom attendees included representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts and Silling Architects.
The board then voted unanimously to approve disbursement request No. 31 in the amount of $1,581,994.72. The request was made in a motion by Pendleton and seconded by Jolly, according to the meeting record.
Architects reported that construction has progressed vertically and that the team is coordinating several upcoming pre-construction activities. They said planning is underway for specific building components that will soon be installed, including elevator doors, hardware and structural steel.
Work on a construction mock-up is also in progress, and an air and vapor barrier is being applied as part of the building envelope system to protect against water and vapor intrusion.
The construction manager told the board that crews are focused on the exterior concrete walls and that several elevator shaft pits have been formed inside the structure. Additional interior walls still need to be formed and stripped before masonry work can begin, followed by construction of the elevator shafts and associated walls moving vertically.
While much of the visible activity appears concentrated on site work, significant foundational and structural preparation is required before the project can rise further. According to the meeting minutes, once a crane is relocated outside the building pad and repositioned on a nearby hillside, crews will be able to install underground plumbing systems within the pad and move into the next phase of construction.
The next Project Development Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Central time.
Key Facts:
– Board unanimously approved disbursement request No. 31 for $1,581,994.72
– Architects said construction has progressed vertically and a building mock-up is underway
– Air and vapor barrier is being applied as part of the building envelope system
– Construction manager reported exterior concrete walls and elevator shaft pits are in progress
– Interior wall work will precede masonry and vertical elevator shaft construction
– Crane will be moved to the hillside to allow underground plumbing installation
