Renovations at Veterans Assistance Commission and Court Annex on Track for Winter Completion

Article Summary: Will County’s new Veterans Assistance Commission facility in Joliet is projected to be completed by December, while major renovations for the State’s Attorney’s office in the Court Annex are on schedule for a November move-in. Director of Facilities Bill Fern updated a county committee on the progress of these and other key capital projects across the county.

Capital Projects Update Key Points:

• Interior renovations at the Veterans Assistance Commission buildout at 1300 Copperfield are underway, with a target completion of December 2025.

• The Court Annex renovations for the State’s Attorney’s office at 57 N. Ottawa are nearing completion and on track for a November 2025 move-in.

• A potential delay in the delivery of rooftop air handlers for the VAC building is being monitored by the facilities department.

• Other completed projects include exterior stone repairs at the new courthouse and the installation of speed bumps at the county office building.

JOLIET, IL — Two major Will County building projects are nearing the finish line, with the new Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) facility expected to open by December and the State’s Attorney’s office set to move into its renovated space in November.

Will County Director of Facilities Bill Fern provided the updates to the Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

The buildout of the former Copperfield building at 1300 Copperfield for the VAC is progressing well, with mechanical, lighting, and security systems currently being installed. Fern noted one potential issue that staff is monitoring closely. “The air handling units for the rooftop… the timeline for shipment has been delayed twice,” he said. “We’re coming into the critical point where we’re going to need to condition the space for heat, not air.” Despite the potential delay, the project is still aiming for completion by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, renovations on the second level of the Court Annex building at 57 N. Ottawa for the State’s Attorney’s office are moving quickly. “We’re in a finished space now with the carpet down,” Fern reported, adding that the project is on track for its November move-in date. The remodel includes opening up previously sealed windows to provide natural light to the new offices.

Fern also reported on several smaller projects, including the recent installation of speed bumps and fresh striping in the parking lot of the Will County Office Building to improve pedestrian safety. He also noted that exterior stone repairs on the new courthouse are complete, with scaffolding now removed, at no cost to the county.