Originally constructed in the 1950s, the Bexar County Courthouse Annex is a three-story concrete and steel structure located at 203 W. Nueva Street in downtown San Antonio. Once part of the county’s juvenile detention campus, the building has sat underutilized since the demolition of the adjacent jail facility. Bexar County initiated this effort to transform the structure into a consolidated office hub that also activates the surrounding urban fabric. The project is positioned at the convergence of civic infrastructure and public realm, bordered by the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, the UTSA downtown expansion, and the historic Casa Navarro site.

The design team approached this project by conducting a comprehensive building assessment, feasibility analysis, and development of three concept design options. Each concept addressed structural integrity, modern code compliance, and long-term adaptability. Concept A preserves and upgrades the existing building shell; Concept B explores vertical expansion with two additional floors; and Concept C proposes full demolition and replacement with a six-story mixed-use facility. All options are grounded in urban design goals, including creek-facing activation, public terraces, accessible pathways, and integration with the city’s RIO-7b design standards. The team also evaluated environmental conditions, infrastructure limitations, and cost implications to guide future capital investment.

Across all proposed schemes, the result is a renewed civic presence designed to support workforce retention, enhance the visitor experience, and engage the surrounding community. Each concept envisions a balance between County operational needs and placemaking opportunities—offering street-level retail shells, event spaces, public art integration, and seamless connectivity to UTSA and San Pedro Creek. With square footages ranging from 49,800 GSF to 100,800 GSF and projected budgets between $11.8M and $36.6M, the project offers scalable solutions to meet the County’s evolving priorities.