Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 1
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Rodney Ellis
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 25035MF3X901
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): STOA International Architects, Inc. dba STOA Architects
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 21.30%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to execute an agreement with STOA International Architects, Inc. dba STOA Architects in the amount of $656,400.00 for Professional Engineering and related services in connection with 201 Caroline - Civil Courtrooms Buildout - 2025, UPIN 25035MF3X901, Precinct 1, MWBE Contracted Goal: 21.30%.
end
Background and Discussion:
The project consists of the renovation of two (2) existing half floors within the Civil Courts Building located at 201 Caroline Street to accommodate the buildout of four (4) District Courtrooms and associated support spaces. The scope of work will include evaluating existing conditions and performing a full interior buildout to support courtroom operations, including courtrooms, judicial chambers, jury spaces, and other ancillary support areas. The project will also involve the conversion and reconfiguration of the selected floors to meet functional, operational, and code requirements for District Court use. Professional engineering and related services will include the preparation of design and construction documents necessary to support permitting, bidding, and construction of the project.
Expected Impact:
Approval of this request will allow Harris County to execute an agreement with the consultant to provide professional engineering and related services necessary to design the additional Courtrooms at 201 Caroline. These services will support the evaluation of existing conditions and the development of construction documents required to convert the selected floors into functional courtroom facilities and associated support spaces.
The project will provide additional courtroom capacity required to support the civil district courts created under House Bill 16 and will allow the County to move forward with future construction activities necessary to accommodate those operations.
Alternative Options:
If this request is not approved, the County will not be able to proceed with the design services required to support the courtroom buildout at 201 Caroline. This would delay the development of additional courtroom facilities needed to accommodate the civil district courts established under House Bill 16 and could impact the County’s ability to provide adequate space for court operations.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): E1: Modernize data and technology architecture across the legal system.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H4: Consistently embed sustainability considerations in the project planning and design process.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): J2: Increase the strength and size of MWBE prime vendors.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): T2: Make County buildings more energy efficient.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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2/26/26 |
9; 26-1171 |
Final Investment Memo |
Location:
Address (if applicable): 201 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77002
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Commercial Paper |
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$656,400.00 |
$656,400.00 |
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$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
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$656,400.00 |
$656,400.00 |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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Total Funding Sources |
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$656,400.00 |
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$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 3/31/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Samuel Pena, Chief, Infrastructure & Disaster Recovery, Office of the County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): Agreement