KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Design plans for the new Downtown Justice Facility are moving along, according to designers of the project.
According to county documents, the new building will be a five-story, 165,000 sq. foot facility. It will be located next to the Kalamazoo County Administration Building along Kalamazoo Avenue and serve as the consolidated base of County courts, prosecuting attorney office and other criminal justice services.
The design chosen for the building is called the “TowerPinkster/HOK” design, which is said to “represent the County’s mission of environmental stewardship defined by the principles of sustainable design.”
“I believe this building design is innovative, has a sustainability focus and will meet the County’s justice needs,” Board Chair Julie Rogers said in a written statement. “We are committed to efforts to reduce the justice involved population through other partnerships and community initiatives.
During a county commissioners meeting on Tuesday night, Owner’s Rep Jerry VanderVeen gave a presentation to discuss where the project stands.
“From a timeline standpoint, we completed schematic design, and we are about halfway through what we call ‘design development,’” VanderVeen said. “When we complete that process, probably the end of June, we’ll probably be about two-thirds of the way towards construction drawings, still with our target of bidding and starting the project late this year.”
Meanwhile, the organization is working on a parking lot project, which is said to be west of where the courthouse project will be.
“That project is currently out for sub-contractor bids by the construction manager,” VanderVeen said. “We’re gonna be receiving bids on the first of April, and if everything goes according to plan, we’re gonna start construction on that parking lot sometime in mid-May, early June with completion in September.”
To make the building be more sustainable, several architectural characteristics have been implemented in the design that respond to the environment. The County says that the roof has an expanse overhang to regulate solar heat. It also has a center lightwell to decrease anxiety and stress by those inside the building.
Construction for this project is currently slated to begin this summer, with completion expected in April of 2023.
