LA's remodeled Hall of Justice soon to reopen after 2 decades

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- After nearly two decades, a downtown Los Angeles landmark will soon open its doors again following a major renovation. Inside the Hall of Justice, many years of memories live on.

The gleaming white granite along the archways and columns is the first indication of revival. But once you step inside the newly remodeled Hall of Justice, it's clear to see that one of downtown L.A.'s most historic buildings is back in business.

"It gives you that clear picture of what it looked like back in 1925," said Los Angeles County Sheriff John Scott. He remembers coming into the building on the day he joined the department more than 40 years ago.

"Raised my right hand and was sworn in right here in this building," said Scott.

In December, Scott will finish out his term as interim sheriff, just as the department is set to move back into to the building, which had been abandoned for almost 20 years.

"To be able to say I started here and then finished here is kind of an emotional journey that I've taken," said Scott.

Built in 1925, the Hall of Justice was a central hub for L.A. County law enforcement. It was home to the sheriff's department, the coroner and even the court system. But the building was condemned after the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

"Sad, because the building was such a historic building," said Gary Tse, part of the team that red-tagged the building after the earthquake. Now he's part of the team that helped bring this building back to life.

"Exciting to see how the building can be transformed into a more modern building," said Tse.

The $230-million renovation effort began in earnest more than two years ago. The project created 300,000 square feet of modern office space that will be used by the sheriff's department and the district attorney's office.

"Every floor really is its own little neighborhood," said Ryan Kristan, L.A. County Public Works. "Every floor is designed specifically for these tenants around the historic fabric."

Along with retrofitting the entire structure with a new steel skeleton, crews also worked to preserve some remarkable historic features, including the lobby on the first floor and an original courtroom.

They were also able to preserve the original jail cells in the building, from the 10th floor down to the first floor, at what will eventually become a museum. The cellblock once housed Charles Manson and other notorious criminals. Now it will be on display as part of L.A.'s history, a building's legacy reclaimed.

"This is the history of Los Angeles, this is culture. This is how our city grew and became what it is now," said Kristan.

The re-dedication ceremony for the Hall of Justice is scheduled for October 8.