Last week, crews knocked down the walls of West Elementary in St. George to make way for a 5th District Court building to serve booming southwestern Utah.

Scheduled for completion by fall 2009, the new courthouse will more than double the number of courtrooms - from three to eight - and also have room for a federal magistrate.

Four judges share three courtrooms in the current building, which opened in 1981 and was supposed to last 50 years.

"Back then no one anticipated how fast the region will grow," explained Rick Davis, trial court executive for 5th District Court.

Davis said the Legislature pegged $29 million for the new courthouse, which will be built so courtrooms can be added in the future.

Alyn Lunceford, facilities manager for state courts, said the current St. George facility is often crowded and noted prisoners have to pass the judges' chambers to reach a courtroom.

"We had no idea back when the courthouse was built what kind of security we need today," Lunceford said. "Nowadays you have to prepare for the worst."

West Elementary's 500 or so students vacated their school in mid-January and now attend Heritage Elementary.

Meanwhile, the current courthouse will go to the city for additional office space.

Assistant City Manager Marc Mortensen said St. George took control of West Elementary, near 300 West and Tabernacle Street, in a property exchange with Washington County School District.

The district gained land for two new grade schools. The city then swapped the West Elementary property to the state for the new courthouse in exchange for the current courthouse across the street from city offices at 200 East and 220 North.

Mortensen said the city plans to remodel the old courthouse and eventually hopes to connect the two buildings with a tunnel or skywalk.

mhavnes@sltrib.com