What does it take to restore a building constructed in 1899 that sat vacant for two decades? Vision. Commitment. Thousands of hours of skilled labor. Two generous grants to fund the work and a collaboration among organizations with a passion for natural preservation. That’s the story of how the iconic Cass County Administration building in Cassopolis, Michigan, went from a complete state of disrepair—no heat or electricity, lots of 1970s orange and green, and rain inside the building—to the beautifully restored and modernized structure that stands today.

Cass County Administration Building, 1899

Lewis Cass, Governor of Cass County (1813-1831)

A Brief History

Named after Lewis Cass, the governor at the time the building was constructed, the Cass County Administration building was the county’s third courthouse. A symbol of civic pride, the iconic limestone building with a towering bell housed the county’s operations for more than a century.

In 1971, a two-story annex, which connects to the courthouse, was erected. It was during this renovation that the glass arch gracing the entrance to the original courthouse was covered up, drop ceilings were added over the original sculptural dome, and the central staircase was moved. In 2003, the county’s administrative offices moved into the Law and Courts building on M-62, leaving the 1899 courthouse at 120 N. Broadway Street vacant. Because of the building’s extensive damage after sitting empty for twenty years, a complete tear-down was considered.

The Decision to Restore

After reviewing several proposals, Cass County commissioners voted in October 2022 to restore the treasured landmark, preserving its legacy for generations to come. The project, funded in part by a $9.6 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $1.5 million federal grant, avoids placing additional tax burdens on residents while positioning the county for future growth. This solution was met with much excitement from county officials and community members alike.

County officials chose three Southwest Michigan-based businesses to perform the work. They partnered with commercial developer PlazaCorp, architectural design studio Intersect, and construction firm ELITE Companies to complete the restoration in time to celebrate its 125th anniversary in October 2024.

View of the two-story glass arched entrance during renovation

View of the extensive plasterwork during renovation

The Work Begins

Jim Feltch, president and CEO of ELITE Companies, remembers the first day he saw the building in its deteriorated condition. He recalls, “ELITE Superintendent Chad Diefenbacher and I looked around the building, ran our hands along the walls to feel the history, and visualized what the outcome could potentially look like. I asked him, ‘Are you ready for a challenge?’” Chad responded, “This will be a project we’ll never forget. Let’s make it happen.”

Complete demolition of the interior began in June 2022 to remove the once-fashionable finishes added during previous renovations. The goal of the renovation was to restore much of the building’s original character to reflect the time it was built. Plans included moving the main staircase back to its original place in the center of the building and removing the drop ceilings to offer a view of the dome. What was once a dark and closed-off space will now be flooded with light. Employees and members of the community will once again enter the courthouse through a large glass arch on Broadway Street that had been covered up for fifty years.

To ensure that the wood graining on the exterior matched as closely as possible to the original, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), an architectural and historic restoration society, was consulted. Likewise, artisans who specialize in the intricacies of plasterwork were brought in to recreate the detail in the plaster ceiling.

View of the courtroom on the third floor during renovation

Newly renovated courtroom on the grand reopening and 125th celebration day on October 11, 2024

Challenges to Overcome

A project of this size and scope is not without its surprises. During demolition, evidence of a fire on the third floor was discovered. Overcoming issues, such as structural sagging on the third floor, and ensuring modern safety standards, such as installing a fire pump, required constant problem-solving and close coordination with architects and engineers.

Jim says, “The age of the building, the vacancy, and the county’s expectations made this a tough project from the start. We never doubted our approach to the challenge. Projects like this provide opportunity to embrace the community, be creative with the outcomes, and provide a level of service that requires a foundation of purpose and passion, which is exactly what ELITE Companies does best.”

Left to right: Superintendents Chad Diefenbacher and Jeff Copenhafer, and Senior Project Manager Jack Whitman

Left to right: Board Chair Jeremiah Jones and State Representative Brad Paquette

Collaboration is Key to Success

The success of the restoration project can be attributed to the exceptional partnership among all parties, including the realty company, architect, construction firm, county administrators, and local skilled trades. Each played a crucial role in ensuring this project met its goals, from careful planning to expert execution.

Cass County Finance Director Jennifer Rentfrow (and one of the administrators who will move into the newly renovated space upon completion) had this to say about working with ELITE: “Working with ELITE Companies has been my favorite part of the whole project…The exceptional attitudes, commitment, and willingness of the team to go above and beyond…have made a significant impact in Cass County. If the goal is for a construction company to set itself apart, ELITE has certainly succeeded in my eyes.”

Jim says, “The style of our working relationship has been everything our team excels in: efficiency, transparency, being forthright, attentive listening to the client’s expectations and trusting in the professional aptitude of one another. The open communication and weekly interactions have provided a strong foundation of success and created lasting relationships that we are very proud of and thankful for.”

Senior Project Manager Jack Whitman adds, “We’ve built a strong relationship with this client. We were also able to leverage the craftsmanship and the dedication of the skilled trades here in Southwest Michigan. It’s just an extraordinary team.”

Former County Administrator Terry Proctor signs the guest book at the grand reopening and 125th anniversary celebration on October 11, 2024

 Attendee Matt Burkhardt reads about the history of the courthouse at the grand reopening

The center staircase was moved back to its original location during the extensive restoration

Slow and Steady Progress

“Every other week the commissioners would walk through and see the progress. I loved seeing the smiles on their faces and the gleam in their eyes. They couldn’t believe how much had changed (from one week to the next), the quality of work, and the consistent progress,” says Superintendent Jeff Copenhafer.

Chad continues, “(Jennifer) was excited to see the weekly progress, no matter how small. She got excited when the stair rails were installed, the carpet, and the furniture in her office. The administrators were just as excited as we were about the progress. That says something about the work, in my opinion.”

From the beginning, ELITE Companies was committed to using local resources and skilled workers throughout the project. “There is a lot of creativity and artistry that the trades don’t get full credit for. When construction is deeply rooted, there is a finesse, artistry, and craftsmanship that needs to be respected and appreciated in the industry,” says Jim.

Especially of note, the team has worked for more than 28 months on the project and maintained a perfect safety record, with zero safety incidents or lost work days. This wouldn’t be possible without the shared commitment among the trade partners to create a safe working environment from start to finish.

“I could not be more proud of my team,” says Jim with a smile.

Cass County Administrator Matthew Newton addresses the crowd at the 125th anniversary celebration

Members of the community celebrate the grand reopening of the Cass County Administration building

A Commitment to Community

Restoring the Cass County Administration building offers far-reaching benefits for the local community. When completed, the restored historic courthouse will be home to many administrative offices for the county, including the offices of the administrator, clerk, treasurer, equalization, veteran services, information technology, geographic information systems, as well as the County commissioner chambers.

The building is a true source of local pride. Many residents have come forward to share their stories and memories in the building, from taking an exam for a government position to being married in the courthouse, as well as their excitement for the future. The ELITE team interacted with community members and local businesses throughout the project. Jack says, “We went out to breakfast regularly at a local diner. The waitresses got to know the workers’ orders by heart.”

Several members of the ELITE Companies team attended the celebration

Board of Commissioners Chair Jeremiah Jones cuts the ribbon at the 125th anniversary celebration

Looking Toward the Future

The finished building perfectly preserves the building’s history and character of the original construction while adding all the modern conveniences. But it does so much more. The hope is that this project will become the catalyst for other revitalization work that extends beyond Cass County and position other counties in the Southwest Michigan region for future growth and development.

To celebrate the grand reopening and 125th anniversary of the newly restored Cass County Administration building, the community held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 11. A crowd of county officials, past and present, community leaders, and residents gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion on a beautiful autumn day.

Because of the unique dedication, commitment, and collaboration among ELITE Companies, Plazacorp, Intersect, the Cass County administrators, and the many skilled tradesmen and women who devoted thousands of hours to the restoration, the iconic Cass County Administration building stands ready to serve the community for the next one hundred years.

The phrase, “They don’t make buildings like this anymore” couldn’t be more true.

We think Mr. Lewis Cass would agree.

About ELITE Companies
ELITE Companies is a leading construction management firm headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with additional offices in Battle Creek. Founded in 2017, ELITE Companies is recognized as one of Michigan’s fastest-growing firms, named among Michigan Celebrates Small Businesses Top 50 Companies to Watch. With a team of industry veterans bringing more than 100 years of collective experience, ELITE delivers value-driven construction management services focused on meeting budget, schedule, quality, and safety commitments. The firm’s flexible and comprehensive approach ensures successful project execution, contributing to the growth and success of communities across Michigan.