Waller County Justice Center in Hempstead, TX

The Waller County Justice Center is a new 5-story construction project located at 400 Sheriff R. Glen Smith Dr, Hempstead, TX 77445. This significant public infrastructure development spans 136,582 sq ft and carries an estimated cost of $100,000,000. The facility is designed to accommodate courts, inmate holding, county administration functions, and surface parking. Waller County serves as the owner and developer of record for this substantial investment in local government infrastructure.

Project Timeline and Registration

This project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in November 2026. The registration includes a registered accessibility specialist, Kimberly J Goss, ensuring compliance with state accessibility standards. Plan review is pending, and the project is targeted for March 2029. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027, establishing a build window that extends well beyond typical county averages.

Scale and Financial Context

The estimated cost per square foot for the Justice Center is $732. This figure is notably above the county median of $75 per sq ft for new construction filings. The total project cost places it in the top quarter of Waller County projects by value, with a median estimated cost of $1,200,000 for similar filings. The scheduled build window of 759 days is longer than the county median of 273 days, reflecting the complexity of a multi-story justice facility.

Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects is the design firm of record. The firm has a portfolio of other TDLR-registered projects totaling $30,401,596, including facilities in Big Spring, Plano, Humble, and Mckinney. The project involves public funds and public land, underscoring its importance to the community. For context, the U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates for ZIP 77445 report a population of about 14,943 and a median household income of $63,650.

Waller County has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $33,517,516, including the Waller County Courthouse and various annex expansions, all of which are now closed. The Justice Center represents a major expansion of the county's administrative and judicial capabilities. The project's registration status remains active as it moves through the plan review phase, with completion targeted for March 2029.