COEUR d’ALENE — Plans for a $22 million addition to the Justice Building located on Kootenai County’s main campus in downtown Coeur d’Alene continue to take shape.

County commissioners reviewed the current plans this week and a timeline for the project.

“It’s very nice looking,” Commissioner Bruce Mattare said of the renderings and floor plans presented to the commissioners Wednesday by Lombard Conrad Architects.

Federal dollars will pay for the expansion. Commissioners voted 2-1 last year to spend $22 million of the $32 million allocated to Kootenai County through the American Rescue Plan Act on the project.

The 59,500-square-foot, three-level expansion will add three courtrooms, as well as a secure detention area and office space for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, district court employees, prosecutors and other county staff.

At present, Kootenai County has more judges than courtrooms, which has created scheduling challenges.

In its report to commissioners, the county’s ARPA task force said the additional facilities will enable the court to fully address the case backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Floor plans show a connection to the building’s existing lobby so the whole building is accessible through one main security area.

Bouten Construction Company is working collaboratively with Lombard Conrad Architects to assign costs associated with different elements of the project based on the overall budget.

The project is currently in the preconstruction phase, which is expected to last until November.