June 6, 200718 yr Hmmm... doesn't hold a candle to the courthouse at Civic Center & State. Looove that building.
June 6, 200718 yr Seems a bit small, but the site plan is also something that perturbs me. If they really want to create a unique public space, then do so. This plan I don't think will accomplish that. Something with the building set slightly further back with a grand staircase of sorts or a running fountain would have done the trick. The public space in this plan seems to be more of an after thought than anything else.
June 6, 200718 yr You're absolutely right --- All this talk about green space being necessary. Not downtown!! Especially not just grass and a couple trees... Like UncleRando said, if they put a large plaza with a fountain or statues or something interesting, then ok... But not just freaking grass... I do like the glass/transparency aspect to it - But just a square bldg with a little elevator shaft on the outside? Really? Is that the most visibly appealing idea that they could come up with? I mean, I'm pretty disappointed in this -- It feels more like it should be in Oklahoma City than Columbus --- I always felt Columbus had some sort of architectural integrity to it (I know about the 60's and 70's when there was no integrity), and that the new structures going up would play into the feel of the city... I don't see this doing that - And it's setback from the sidewalk? why!!?? So kids can play on the grass while their parents are being sentenced?
June 7, 200718 yr ^Most federal buildings, if not all now, are setback due to that whole "terrorist" thing (Oklahoma City, anyone?). "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 7, 200718 yr Disappointing. I was hoping after spending all the time and money they could have come up with something at the very least interesting. It looks rather small after all the hype about how much more room they needed, and the elevator outcropping makes it look like a student project.
June 7, 200718 yr ^Most federal buildings, if not all now, are setback due to that whole "terrorist" thing (Oklahoma City, anyone?). Tru Tru - And I didn't realize the irony until now lol - But, this isn't a federal building, and they could just put some cement statues out front to block cars from driving up to it. Grass certainly isn't going to stop a car or truck -
June 8, 200718 yr Well, I'm sure they are going to put bollards or something that the rendering isn't showing. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 12, 200718 yr I'm sure the design will change, drastically even. This is only a concept right now. I remember seeing computer generated models of the Arena District, you know--before it became issue one and they were going to build a soccer stadium with it--that looked like crap and look what we got now!
July 3, 200717 yr Officials go for gold standard with a 'green' courthouse Tuesday, July 3, 2007 3:23 AM By Barbara Carmen THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Franklin County taxpayers will pay $105 million for a new courthouse, but it won't even have that new-carpet, fresh-paint smell. By design. Instead of volatile organic compounds that release gasses, visitors to the contemporary, seven-story building will get a whiff of the future. Every inch is being designed to produce Ohio's first "green" county courthouse. County commissioners envision their building as a showcase of environmental responsibility. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/03/GREEN.ART_ART_07-03-07_B3_U076KSF.html
July 6, 200717 yr It doesn't look like the design is going to change much...I just walked by this morning and there was a huge banner with the rendering on it. It said "Tranparent Justice!".
July 17, 200717 yr From the 7/16/07 Dispatch: AGING MUNICIPAL COURT City vies for deed to S. High building $7.7 million in repairs offered if county gives up ownership Monday, July 16, 2007 3:30 AM By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The drafty, leaky, too-hot, too-cold Franklin County Municipal Court building is in for a multimillion-dollar makeover. Columbus plans to spend up to $7.7 million over the next five years to fix problems in the 28-year-old S. High Street building, a source of friction between city and county officials for years. However, in exchange for pumping so much money into the Franklin County-owned building, Columbus wants the deed. The county borrowed money to construct the building in the 1970s, but the city's lease covers 85 percent of the payments. More at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/16/municourt.ART_ART_07-16-07_B1_RL79RR8.html
September 4, 200717 yr The Franklin County Courthouse project is well underway. Ground (or asphalt in this case) has been broken. Rendering view from Mound Street looking north Site Plan
October 19, 200717 yr This looks like a typical Barbara Carmen "flame" story - but it does involve an update on the Franklin County Courthouse Project. Some of the proposed options, like less glass on the west wall facing Front Street, are probably less likely to be done. However, that resdesigned north side wall shown in the photo/rendering accompanying the story looks like a potential improvement that could be well received. Courthouse price tag soars by $11 million Friday, October 19, 2007 By Barbara Carmen, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Read more at http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/10/09/20071019-B1-02.html
October 19, 200717 yr I wonder if they looked at cutting two floors off the top and increasing the building's footprint by getting rid of the suburban-esque setbacks? Also...is anyone else disturbed by the giant surface parking lot that remains in the top rendering?
October 19, 200717 yr I say finish the entire 7th floor, construction costs are only going to go up. It would be cheaper to build them now instead of waiting until later. Do not eliminate the four foot recess completely or the building will just end up looking like any other building. I too am disgusted by the surface lot in the first rendering. So, does anyone actually write in to the commissioners to make heard what we have to say here or do we just give our opinions here and then nothing happens?
October 19, 200717 yr With all of the cuts and adjustments they want to make, they might as well scrap the entire building. Smh
January 11, 200817 yr New courthouse draws praise Commissioners like slightly smaller design, slightly lower cost Friday, January 11, 2008 - 5:34 AM By Barbara Carmen, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Franklin County's new courthouse would shrink -- and so would its cost -- according to new drawings unveiled yesterday. The changes, both subtle and sizable, drew praise from county commissioners, who ordered adjustments to keep the $105 million building at Mound and High streets on budget, "green" and attractive. REVISED DESIGN VIEWED FROM HIGH STREET PREVIOUS DESIGN Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/11/NEWLOOK.ART_ART_01-11-08_B1_TV91CM7.html?sid=101
January 11, 200817 yr My thought exactly. It'll fit well with the rest of the brutalism downtown...lol.
January 11, 200817 yr Yuck, commissioners should leave what is concidered "beautiful" to the professionals.
January 11, 200817 yr My thought exactly. It'll fit well with the rest of the brutalism downtown...lol. Again, I'm not the one who said it but... "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 14, 200817 yr Wow.... we (City of Columbus) get an opportunity to get another building downtown, and once again we lost with this project.
January 16, 200817 yr Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/16/chouse.ART_ART_01-16-08_B2_DN92PO7.html?sid=101 Downtown Commission OKs revised courthouse design Panel president objects to building's north side Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 3:02 AM By Barbara Carmen, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Franklin County's new courthouse picked up a key blessing from the Downtown Commission yesterday, but approval of the building's design was less than wholehearted. Downtown Commission President Harrison Smith predicted the courthouse's north facade -- without the glass walls of the other sides -- will look good only when another building is blocking it. "I hope they lose the (vacant) lot next to it -- try to sell it as fast as possible," said Smith, who cast the only vote against the design.
October 24, 200816 yr If that's the new courthouse, what becomes of the tall building in the background? Isn't that the current courthouse?
October 24, 200816 yr What's currently being built is actually a replacement for the current Hall of Justice, which is the taller white and black building in the above photo.
November 19, 200816 yr Some aerial photos of the new County Courthouse building under construction. Taken from the 10TV chopper during a recent story.
November 20, 200816 yr Yeah I think that "Recent story" was one of the construction workers fell from the top floor down to the second floor and had life threatening injuries. I never heard any updates but I pray he was okay.
November 20, 200816 yr Yeah I think that "Recent story" was one of the construction workers fell from the top floor down to the second floor and had life threatening injuries. I never heard any updates but I pray he was okay. Yes, unfortunately this is so. Below is the most recent update from the Dispatch website: Ironworker put into coma after his fall Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:09 AM An ironworker who fell two stories at a Downtown construction site was placed in an induced coma yesterday to keep him immobilized so his injuries can heal. Troy Miller, who was working with Runyon Erectors on the new Franklin County Courthouse, has a broken face bone, a broken arm and a broken pelvis, County Administrator Don Brown said. Doctors at Grant Medical Center are continuing to evaluate him, but the fractures appear to be his most serious injuries, Brown said. Miller was reaching for a beam on the fifth floor when he lost his balance and fell to the third floor. He was not wearing a safety harness, Brown said. Read more at http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2008/11/19/20081119-B3-04.html
November 28, 200816 yr Council balks at county's bid for alleys lost to courthouse Tuesday, November 25, 2008 By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Columbus has delayed handing over the rights to streets now beneath the new Franklin County courthouse because City Council members aren't sure they want what's being offered in return. In exchange for two alleyways on which they're already building, county commissioners say they'll give the city a $2.1 million credit toward purchasing the 29-year-old Franklin County Municipal Court building, owned by county government but operated by Columbus. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/25/copy/Coun25.ART_ART_11-25-08_B2_NKC0F9K.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
November 29, 200816 yr That's some scary shit! I hope the guy ends up being ok. Me too. What's also sad is him taking such a hit for such an ugly, bland, suburban building.
December 6, 200816 yr Deal struck on two courthouses in Franklin County Thursday, December 4, 2008 - 3:22 AM By Barbara Carmen, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Franklin County and Columbus have struck a deal to swap ownership interests in their respective courthouses, tidying up legal titles -- and the Municipal Court building itself. For years, county commissioners have complained of poor housekeeping at the building, 375 S. High St. The county owns it; the city maintains it. That would change Jan. 1 under a deal the Columbus City Council approved Monday and sent to the commissioners. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/04/copy/Commiss03.ART_ART_12-04-08_B2_D8C4HJ3.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 15, 200816 yr New Franklin County Courthouse building under construction at High and Mound Streets. This photo was taken from the existing county courthouse tower immediately south of the construction site. Mound Street would be at the image's bottom just out of frame. High Street is at the image's right. The large brick building on High Street is the Great Southern Hotel.
December 17, 200816 yr Construction photos from yesterday: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_03.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_04.jpg">
January 31, 200916 yr Another photo of the Franklin County Courthouse under construction. This one is from a Dispatch photographer taken last week. I like how this angle gets the rest of downtown columbus in the background. Enjoy.
March 1, 200916 yr Stretch of Mound going one-way for construction Business First of Columbus Friday, February 27, 2009, 2:56pm EST The next addition to Franklin County's government complex project will make a part of Mound Street a one-way route for the next six months. The stretch of Mound between Front and High streets starting Monday will switch to west-bound traffic only as construction begins on a pedestrian tunnel beneath the street, Franklin County Commissioners said. No parking will be affected in the projected six-month construction timeline and the street will resume two-way traffic when the work is completed. For a map of Monday's traffic pattern change, click here. The tunnel ties into a larger, more than $100 million effort to revamp the county's government complex, anchored by a new courthouse building. The final pieces of steel framework for the project were installed in December and the project is set for a fall 2010 completion. http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/02/23/daily52.html?ana=e_du_pub
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