After sustaining damage in the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, the future of the King County Courthouse was in doubt. The historic structure, built in 1914, was particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. Instead of demolishing the Courthouse, this project provided for seismic retrofit and life safety system upgrades.

With the ceiling spaces open and the building partially unoccupied, it was prudent to undertake a number of planned capital improvement projects. These included upgrading the HVAC system, telecommunications infrastructure, and courtroom security.