For nearly 100 years, the historic Jackson County Courthouse, one of the most photographed buildings in North Carolina, served citizens from its spectacular summit in the town of Sylva. Jackson County utilized the talents of McMillan Pazdan Smith to explore the potential for restoration and alternative uses through a Feasibility Study.
Results led to an adaptive reuse plan incorporating a new, two-story, 20,000 SF addition housing the Jackson County Public Library and the renovation of existing space in the courthouse for community meetings, programs and offices for local, non-profit organizations.
Donnie Love, McMillan Pazdan Smith’s Historic Preservation Specialist, says, “a complete restoration of the original architectural elements magnified the building’s historic grandeur. It is a huge accomplishment for all North Carolina citizens that this community structure has been preserved with a new mission.”