Denton County commissioners approved design plans for the second phase of the new administrative complex to be built at 535 S. Loop 288.

Commissioners were given two options, and they chose the second. Now the architects, HDR Architecture Inc., will go back and refine the plans to present to court members later this spring.

“As a committee, we asked them to work on signage and a few things on the outside,” Precinct 4 County Commissioner Andy Eads said.

Once the second phase of construction is complete, the offices of adult probation, elections, the game warden, facilities, information services and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission will be able to relocate to the complex.

The cost of this phase of the project is nearly $40 million.

The first phase of construction, which cost close to $19.8 million, allowed for the Denton County Health Department, adult protective services, the Women, Infants and Children Low Income Nutritional Screening and Food Supplementary Program, and Child Protective Services to be moved to the complex.

Eads and other court members recently took a tour of the health department and CPS offices, which are expected to open this summer.

“It will be a very nice project once completed,” Eads said. “We’re excited about opening it later this summer.”

— Bj Lewis