The long-awaited carting of files and pushing of handtrucks began on Friday, as officials started moving from their various temporary offices into revamped digs at the Island County Courthouse in Coupeville.

Initiated last spring, the $1.9 million redesign, which was planned by county engineer Jill Wood, creates eight separate county offices. Many of the offices, such as the assessor’s, are more spacious than before and all of them are swank and modern-looking. The existing courthouse structure was also retrofitted for earthquake preparedness, with outer walls being extended to twice their old thickness.

“I think in general people are pleased with the building,” said Public Works Director Bill Oakes on Thursday.

The original structure was built in 1947, and as the main county building served a variety of functions. Along with housing all county offices, the courthouse also had a jail on the bottom floor, barred windows and all. The first remodel occurred in 1973, at the same time the Island County Annex across the street was built, and involved gutting a large boiler room to free up more office space. Also, just a few years back, an elevator was installed.

During this most recent phase of remodeling on the courthouse, offices such as the treasurer, auditor and assessor have been scattered around the county campus in trailers and temporary office spaces. The redesign also created new offices for county commissioners, who for years have been located in the brown Kaul Building on Main Street, which will now become an annex for juvenile services.

Much of Wood’s design is public-friendly, with offices laid out to best expedite government services. For instance, the unique lay-out of the treasurer’s office, with its windowed cubicles and front-facing desks, gives workers full visibility of the public service desk.

During the relocation, a number of county offices will close briefly, beginning with the Auditor’s Office this Monday until 4:30 p.m. The Assessor’s Office will be closed Thursday and Friday; General Services (excluding the Public Defender) will shut down one day on Friday, March 8; Human Resources will be closed Thursday, March 7; and the Treasurer’s Office will be closed Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15.