2020 AIA National Justice Facilities Award
$35 Million Facility Designed to Meet the Current & Future Needs
The new Polk County Criminal Court Building was part of a multi-phase project centralizing court functions for the county. The project was a complete transformation of the former Polk County Jail into a five-story courthouse designed to meet the high volume of criminal cases. Extensive demolition, structural modifications, and build back were completed over a 120,000 sq. ft. renovation area. The team from Shuck-Britson, a subsidiary of Snyder & Associates, performed this extensive structural design work.
The top five stories of the jail were carefully removed, along with the main shear elements of the building, leaving the concrete structure and foundation of the original lower two stories. The reconstruction consisted of reinforcing the existing foundation and structure to meet new load requirements. A new concrete core, along with other shear elements was constructed to resist lateral loads.
Ample Room to Expand for Future Growth
An outdoor patio area is located on the south side of the 3rd floor.
The building’s footprint was expanded, including the construction of two new stairway towers and an open atrium extending from the ground floor to the roof. Three new stories consisting of steel framing and concrete decks were constructed on the reinforced first and second stories. Sage glass, stone, and metal panels were used extensively for much of the finish work. The final product resulted in a modern, safe, and energy-efficient building.
The new courthouse layout greatly improves safety for visitors and employees alike. The unique and creative design elements incorporated into the construction allowed for open courtrooms, cantilevered balconies, a third-floor outdoor patio, and a full-height atrium enclosed in glass.
