May 1, 200916 yr http://www.columbusunderground.com/franklin-county-courthouse-project-update Franklin County Press Release: Construction Advances on Franklin County Government Center Projects in Downtown Columbus Construction of both the Franklin County New Courts Building and Government Center Entrance Pavilion projects continue to advance toward anticipated completion next year. The New Courts Building will transform an entire city block of surface parking into a community centerpiece for Franklin County citizens with a series of high quality urban spaces including an entrance forecourt, pocket parks, seating terraces and new streetscapes, all with a focus on sustainable design. The pursuit of LEED Gold certification of the New Courts Building demonstrates the County Commissioners’ commitment to environmental stewardship and use of the latest available green building technologies. A highly visible rain garden at the corner of South Front and Mound Streets will employ innovative rain water harvesting and sustainable storm water management concepts while preserving valuable green space for public use and enjoyment. The Entrance Pavilion will provide an identifiable lobby for the Government Center Complex south of Mound Street and include the redevelopment of Franklin Commons, an energetic civic plaza fronting on South High Street. Both projects will complete portions of the Courthouse Square, a major new civic space and southern gateway to downtown Columbus. Government Center Architectural Design Team: Arquitectonica, DesignGroup, Schooley Caldwell Associates, KKG Visit www.EarthCam.net to view live, streaming video of construction of the New Courts Building.
May 1, 200916 yr Franklin County Courthouse Update http://www.columbusunderground.com/franklin-county-courthouse-project-update Site Plan of the New Courthouse Building located north of Mound Street and the new entrance pavilion located south of Mound Street. Rendering of the new entrance pavilion located south of Mound Street.
May 2, 200916 yr Inmates, public will walk the 'Munnel' Columbus' own 'big dig' will accommodate foot traffic between new courthouse and county complex Friday, May 1, 2009 - 3:10 AM By Bruce Cadwallader, The Columbus Dispatch England has the Chunnel for high-speed trains to France. Manhattan has the Lincoln and Holland tunnels for cars to New Jersey. Columbus will soon have the Munnel for pedestrians to the new Downtown courthouse. A 170-foot-long tunnel -- dubbed by some the "Munnel" because it runs under W. Mound Street -- will link the Franklin County courts complex on S. High Street and the $105 million Common Pleas courthouse now under construction. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/05/01/tunnel.ART_ART_05-01-09_B1_2PDNM7Q.html?sid=101
May 2, 200916 yr LINK: VIDEO OF TUNNEL THAT WILL CONNECT THE NEW FRANKLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDING NORTH OF MOUND STREET AND THE EXISTING COUNTY COURTHOUSE COMPLEX SOUTH OF MOUND STREET - OR AS THE DISPATCH IS CALLING IT "THE MUNNEL" :roll: SITE PLAN OF MOUND STREET TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
May 3, 200916 yr This is why I love Columbus. Things like this "Munnel" make Columbus so unique and extraordinary.
May 6, 200916 yr OMG! Seriously!? Why is this such a big deal. It's not like it is the first tunnel built in Columbus. I mean, you can go from the Huntington Center to the Capitol Building Garage through a tunnel that goes underneath High St. If you want something really phenominal when it comes to tunnels in Columbus, perhaps there should be more discussion about the tunnel being bored under the city for the new sewer system that is costing Columbus billions.
May 6, 200916 yr If you want something really phenominal when it comes to tunnels in Columbus, perhaps there should be more discussion about the tunnel being bored under the city for the new sewer system that is costing Columbus billions. Points for J Remy. How's that coming, by the way?
May 6, 200916 yr If you want something really phenominal when it comes to tunnels in Columbus, perhaps there should be more discussion about the tunnel being bored under the city for the new sewer system that is costing Columbus billions. Points for J Remy. How's that coming, by the way? (At the risk of getting off topic from the Courthouse project...) Haven't heard anything about the big sewer tunnel since posting a Dispatch article in the Random Columbus Developments thread here in Nov. 2007. According to the article, the "5.4-mile-long, 18-foot-wide sewer tunnel" would begin construction in 2010 and be finished by 2015.
May 7, 200916 yr "like a bag of crack and a gun, outside" put that on a bilboard for South Columbus tourism.
May 7, 200916 yr If you want something really phenominal when it comes to tunnels in Columbus, perhaps there should be more discussion about the tunnel being bored under the city for the new sewer system that is costing Columbus billions. Points for J Remy. How's that coming, by the way? (At the risk of getting off topic from the Courthouse project...) Haven't heard anything about the big sewer tunnel since posting a Dispatch article in the Random Columbus Developments thread here in Nov. 2007. According to the article, the "5.4-mile-long, 18-foot-wide sewer tunnel" would begin construction in 2010 and be finished by 2015. Seriously?? people can't be pooping much more than normal. Turn it into a subway tunnel.
May 8, 200916 yr If you want something really phenominal when it comes to tunnels in Columbus, perhaps there should be more discussion about the tunnel being bored under the city for the new sewer system that is costing Columbus billions. Points for J Remy. How's that coming, by the way? (At the risk of getting off topic from the Courthouse project...) Haven't heard anything about the big sewer tunnel since posting a Dispatch article in the Random Columbus Developments thread here in Nov. 2007. According to the article, the "5.4-mile-long, 18-foot-wide sewer tunnel" would begin construction in 2010 and be finished by 2015. Seriously?? people can't be pooping much more than normal. Turn it into a subway tunnel. ^Scraperdude: Not sure if you were kidding or not. If you weren't kidding, then you need to become aware of one of the "charms" of older urban neighborhoods - combined sewer systems. Pre-1900's neighborhoods were generally built with combined sewer systems. That means both the sanitary sewers from houses and the stormwater from street drains are combined into one large sewer pipe beneath the streets. This pipe eventually leads to the nearest sewage treatment plant where sewage is treated and processed before it is safely released to (in this case) the Scioto River. This arrangement is all well and good - until a heavy rainstorm. The large amount of rainwater runoff from the street drains combine with the sewage from the houses and can sometimes overwhelm the sewage treatment plant. When this happens, some less than fully treated sewage can wash through the treatment plant into the river. Not good. One solution to this combined sewer problem is to build a separated sewer system. One set of pipes for the household sewage only and second set of pipes for stormwater runoff only. In newer neighborhoods that is what's done. The City could rip up all the city streets in the older urban areas with combined sewers and install a separated sewer system in its place. But I think you can see the incredible problems with that strategy. So this new large underground sewer tunnel (article link) is an alternative strategy to this problem. And as expensive and difficult as this sewer tunnel is, it's probably far less expensive and far less difficult then other solutions. And if you were kidding, then that was a funny comment! (I know this reply is off the topic of the Franklin County Courthouse project. But I thought it was important to clarify the tunnel issue. And when there is more news/updates about the Courthouse, we will post them here.)
June 6, 200916 yr Found some higher resolution renderings of the new county courthouse building at the project architect's website. Nothing new design-wise, but the previous renderings available from the local media were on the low-res side. View of the building from High Street. Future building "ghosted-in" on future development site to the north of the courthouse on the block. Night view from High Street. The north elevation of the courthouse is visible next to the "ghost building". Daytime view from the corner of Mound & High. Dusk view from Mound Street. This shows the wood interiors of the upper floor courtrooms lit up.
October 6, 200915 yr The Dispatch had a sunday article on the new Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse building. The exterior buildling shell is mostly finished and the bulk of the interior work is now underway. The scheduled completion date is early 2011. And as of now, the $105 million project is under budget with as much as $918,000 in unspent contingency funds. Full article: New courthouse emerges from the hole on S. High Street; work now moves inside
October 22, 200915 yr I know that some of the original articles on this stated that it might be open "as early as 2009" but it's looking like they're probably running into the later date of "sometime in 2010". I haven't heard any official target opening dates, but it looks like it can't be that far away. <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/courthouse.jpg">
October 22, 200915 yr Thanks for the photo update. You'd be surprised how much work remains after the exterior looks finished. The courthouse was always going to take a long time to finish. I always thought the goal was to be finished before the 2012 city bicentennial. According to the latest Dispatch article, the scheduled completion date is early 2011.
October 25, 200915 yr Oh, wow. I guess the newest article I spotted when I wrote that was way out of date. I know it's been a long time coming. I've been hearing about "Riversouth" for like 10 years now, and it's only just now under construction! :O
December 11, 200915 yr Construction update photo from Tuesday: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/courthouse-1.jpg">
December 12, 200915 yr I've been following the construction on the webcam and am happy that the building looks much better than the renderings. It looked very retro in the renderings and not in a good way. It seems to be coming together nicely.
December 16, 200915 yr I've been following the construction on the webcam and am happy that the building looks much better than the renderings. It looked very retro in the renderings and not in a good way. It seems to be coming together nicely. Agreed... this look like one of those pleasant circumstances where the actual product looks better than the rendering.
January 19, 201015 yr Pavilion to open up county government Courtyard replacement will help get visitors through building maze Monday, January 18, 2010 - 3:09 AM By Barbara Carmen THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Franklin County government center is getting a new "front door" in an effort to help visitors navigate the sprawling mishmash of courtrooms and offices. "I've worked here for years," Commissioner John O'Grady said, "and it's an intimidating and confusing place to be even if you do business here on a regular basis." Daily, he sees bewildered people wandering through the three attached buildings along S. High Street. Others get in the wrong bank of elevators and can't get to the floor they need. And some show up unsure of where to pay a tax bill, get a marriage license, buy dog tags or pay a parking ticket. The new $105 million Common Pleas Courthouse on Mound Street is to open early next year, exacerbating the need to simplify the gnarled setup. The answer, now under construction, is a $16 million courthouse pavilion that will include more prominent signs for directing visitors. The pavilion's design, like the new courthouse across the street, aims for transparency: lots of glass and a soaring atrium. Its $16 million budget covers 23,500 square feet on three levels: a tunnel level, a basement level and a street level. RENDERING OF PAVILION MAP OF PAVILION IN RELATION TO NEW COURTHOUSE BUILDING Full article at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/01/18/copy/Courthouse_entrance.ART_ART_01-18-10_B1_B6GB83S.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
February 18, 201015 yr Still not crazy about the end result, but it's better than a parking lot and there's already a good amount of existing retail spaces and new residential development nearby.
February 24, 201015 yr Still not crazy about the end result, but it's better than a parking lot and there's already a good amount of existing retail spaces and new residential development nearby. What don't you like about it? Keep in mind, governmental buildings today usually have to be built with a certain degree of architectural restraint so as not to draw criticism of being a wasteful expenditure of public funds.
March 21, 201015 yr While I don’t really see any reason I’ll be spending a whole lot of time in this building, I’m really enjoying the addition to the skyline that this is adding from various viewpoints all around Downtown. <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/construction1.jpg">
June 9, 201015 yr New Franklin County Courthouse: ‘A modern expression’ Finishing touches are being put on the new Franklin County Courthouse. Not only is it going to be more roomy and comfortable than its predecessor, efficient design elements should reduce operating costs. Business First of Columbus - by Kevin Kemper Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 8:00am EDT From the Franklin County Courthouse’s exterior design to its interior functionality, designers say it will be a world away from the current Franklin County Hall of Justice, even if it is just across the street. On time and under budget as of May 2010, construction on the $105 million, seven-story facility began in late 2007 and is expected to be finished in December. As soon as they step inside, workers and visitors will notice dramatic changes from the old facilities, said Don Wheat, director of public/private projects for Columbus-based Pizzuti Solutions, the county’s owner’s representative. The New Franklin County Courthouse’s east, south and west sides at 345 S. High Street are almost entirely made up of glass, while the building’s north side is broken up by a series of horizontal windows. The result is that nearly every space in the building benefits from natural light. Figuratively, the glass helps to represent the transparency of justice. “We’ve been referring to the design as a modern expression of a traditional courthouse,” Wheat said. The building is designed with enough green features, Wheat said, that it should attain Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. A section of the roof will feature plants that reduce heat and absorb rainwater. The building’s mechanical system is designed to use 25 percent less energy, Wheat said, saving the county as much as $113,000 in the first year. Meanwhile, thanks to all the natural lighting, an automatic lighting system compensates and adjusts for daylight. Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/06/07/focus1.html?b=1275883200^3455751
August 15, 201014 yr A couple of quick shots of the new courthouse building still under construction. Both are taken from High Street and south of the High Street/Mound Street intersection. Photos courtesy of Chadoh21 http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/4848478698_722101a757_b_d.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/4848484248_4b08e06d8e_b_d.jpg
August 15, 201014 yr We live down the street from the new courthouse. Architecturally, it is a major disappointment among the residents living in the area; outdated as opposed to timeless in design before it even opens. The leed certification of the building is perhaps the only silver lining.
August 23, 201014 yr Update from today: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/courthouse-new1.jpg">
August 23, 201014 yr We live down the street from the new courthouse. Architecturally, it is a major disappointment among the residents living in the area; outdated as opposed to timeless in design before it even opens. The leed certification of the building is perhaps the only silver lining. I'll need to see it in person, but it doesn't look that bad from the photos! Better than I expected given the renderings.
August 29, 201014 yr Hall of Justice to get $58 million upgrade Monday, August 23, 2010 By Barbara Carmen, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The soon-to-be vacant Franklin County Hall of Justice will lose more than just asbestos when a new courthouse opens in January. Commissioners plan to strip away the tower's 1970s vibe, likely by replacing its black windows and adding modern amenities such as a fitness and child-care center. "The building is reusable," Commissioner Paula Brooks said. "We have a good foundation - good bones. We have people on our staff looking at the space and planning to serve our growing population in central Ohio." The Hall of Justice, 369 S. High St., is slated to undergo a $58.8 million makeover when the Common Pleas Court moves across Mound Street. The new $105 million courthouse will be everything its 1973 predecessor isn't: spacious, sunlit and energy-efficient. Commissioners intend to draw up plans for the old building and start work soon after it's vacant. The first occupants of the renovated building might move in by late 2013. Full article: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/08/23/copy/hall-of-justice-to-get-58m-upgrade.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
November 19, 201014 yr I think it's awesomely ironic that the reflection cast by the new courthouse makes what appears to be jail bars on the sidewalk and surroundings on sunny days...
December 17, 201014 yr The New Franklin County Courthouse / Common Pleas Court Building was opened to the media today. Below are links to photo-tours from The Columbus Dispatch and Columbus Underground: COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The New Franklin County Common Pleas Court COLUMBUS UNDERGROUND: New Franklin County Courthouse Building
December 22, 201014 yr Couple more local media articles about the New Franklin County Courthouse / Common Pleas Court Building and a couple of snowy photos as well: COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS: Green, functional courthouse earns county leaders' kudos COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST: New Franklin County courthouse designed to keep energy, stress low
February 1, 201114 yr $105 million, and no cell-phone service Saturday, January 29, 2011 By John Futty, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The opening of the new Franklin County Courthouse is being delayed indefinitely because cell phones and police radios can't get a signal in much of the $105 million building. County commissioners expect to hire a consultant next week to design a solution that could cost "several hundred thousand dollars," county Administrator Don L. Brown said. Correcting the problem will require the installation of booster antennas and repeater stations throughout the seven-story building. The building won't be cleared for occupancy "until we're satisfied that the signal strength is satisfactory," he said. The Common Pleas Court was scheduled to move into the building during the Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 19-21. The main concern is the inability of deputies to use their radios, although the lack of cell-phone service would be a significant inconvenience as well. The building is under budget, Brown said, so the cost of correcting the communication problem can be absorbed. The energy-efficiency of the building, touted by county officials for its "green" design, is being blamed for the problem. The glass walls that dominate the design have an insulating coating that apparently interferes with radio signals. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/01/29/105-million-and-no-cell-phone-service.html?sid=101
February 1, 201114 yr ^This is really an odd situation with the new courthouse building. According to the article: "The energy-efficiency of the building, touted by county officials for its "green" design, is being blamed for the problem. The glass walls that dominate the design have an insulating coating that apparently interferes with radio signals." I wonder what insulating coating they are referring to? It can't be the standard Low-E coating, or something like nitrogen gas between multiple glass panes. If it was, then all glass walled buildings would block radio and cell-phone signals. Which they don't. I suppose it's possible there is some fritting on the glass that could do this. But I didn't think there was any of that on the courthouse's glass walls. Normally it's quite visible. Plus fritting is a fairly common design feature these days. And this interference problem hasn't popped up on other buildings with fritted glass. So this "insulating coating" that is causing this "interference" is a real mystery. Stay tuned.
February 3, 201114 yr Experts: New courthouse's poor cell reception no shock Sprint suggested fix in 2009 for 'green' side effect Wednesday, February 2, 2011 By Elizabeth Gibson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH It might seem that cell-phone signals would travel better through glass than through a wall. But building experts say Franklin County and its contractors should have known that isn't true with the type of energy-efficient glass that covers the new $105 million courthouse. Some say architects should have planned for the issue from the start. County officials announced Friday that the courthouse's opening would be delayed indefinitely because of reception problems for cell phones and police radios inside the building. But at least part of the project team has known about the problems for more than a year, according to records The Dispatch obtained this week. In November 2009, Sprint submitted a sales pitch to improve reception, calling coverage in the courthouse "poor." However, top county officials were unaware of the scope of the problems until December, Administrator Don Brown said. Energy-efficient glass often includes a transparent metal coating that filters out harmful rays and traps heat, and this coating might be contributing to the poor reception. Metal beams, concrete walls and metal shade canopies also might be part of the problem. The more buildings are insulated from the elements, the harder it is to send or receive a signal. The glass in the new courthouse was supplied by Minnesota-based Viracon. Company spokeswoman Christine Shaffer said it's common knowledge that there is a tradeoff between reception and how "green" a pane of glass is. But energy-efficient glass alone shouldn't create problems, said Nadav Malin, president of BuildingGreen, a national company that provides independent information on the green building industry. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/02/copy/experts-courts-poor-cell-reception-no-shock.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
February 3, 201114 yr ^So it appears that the Low-E coating on the glass is being blamed for the cell/radio interference. This is baffling. Low-E glass has been available since 1979. And this glass is very common in new construction and renovations. So why would Low-E glass cause interference problems that require special measures here but not in every other building with Low-E glass built in the past 31 years? What is Low-E Glass? Low emissivity (Low-E) Window Technologies: Low-E Coatings
February 23, 201114 yr Signal-reception survey finds new courthouse full of dead air Thursday, February 17, 2011 By Elizabeth Gibson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH As suspected, a survey last week showed that cell-phone and radio reception in the new Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse leaves much to be desired. The frustrating part is that this test and the installation of a remedy should have been taken care of months ago, county Administrator Don Brown said yesterday. The testing and equipment would have cost just as much in the fall, he said, but the building could have opened sooner. The courthouse was set to open a month ago, but move-in now has been postponed until police radios will work reliably in the courthouse. Testing by Black Box Network Services, an outside consultant, showed that there was little or no reception in the tunnel to the courthouse as well as in holding cells, which are encased in concrete. But it also indicated mediocre signal strength in offices and hallways, including along the building's south side, a wall of glass. But there's good news in the report, too, said Josh Kuhns, a Black Box representative. Reception was great on the roof, which is where antennas have to capture signals in order to boost them through the rest of the building. If the signal up there had been poor, a more-expensive antenna might have been needed. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/17/copy/courthouse-full-of-dead-air.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
March 15, 201114 yr New county courthouse's signal fix to cost $478,548 Police-radio work to take a month, then building can open Tuesday, March 15, 2011 By Elizabeth Gibson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH It will cost $478,548 to improve cell-phone and police-radio reception so that the new Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse can open. The county commissioners are expected to approve a contract this morning to fix problems with poor reception in crucial areas, such as the basement and holding cells. County officials originally had hoped to open the $105 million building in January, but they say it could be at least another month. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/15/copy/new-county-courthouses-signal-fix-to-cost-478548.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
April 20, 201114 yr Reception problems fixed at courthouse Tests find no radio-signal dead spots Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - 03:06 AM By Elizabeth Gibson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The new $105 million Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse has cleared the last major hurdle to opening. Tests conducted yesterday show that a $478,548 system to improve police radio reception in the building has created good results, Deputy County Administrator William Flaherty said. The system to boost the signal was completed last week. READ MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/20/copy/reception-problems-fixed-at-courthouse.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
April 22, 201114 yr Courthouse set to open June 6 Friday, April 22, 2011 By Elizabeth Gibson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The empty benches at the new $105 million Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse soon will be filled by jurors, judges, plaintiffs and defendants. The courthouse is set to open June 6, five months after county officials originally had hoped, Common Pleas judges announced yesterday. Few court proceedings will go on the week before. The bulk of moving will be accomplished the preceding Wednesday through Friday, June 1-3. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/22/courthouse-set-to-open-june-6.html?sid=101
May 15, 201114 yr I think it is ok(passable) but I am sure like many others I wish it was taller. An improvement over surface lots for sure. Does anyone know what the height of this building is at the tallest point(where that narrow part sticks up above the rest)? I have never seen that listed anywhere...was just wondering it it actually qualifies as a high rise (115 feet or above and all)? I know it is only seven stories, but they seem to be pretty tall stories. Thanks!
June 30, 201113 yr A look at the Franklin County Government Complex of five buildings and two parking garages after the recent opening of the new Common Pleas Court building by The Dispatch: Planning begins to tie county buildings all together
March 11, 201213 yr Franklin County is beginning to renovate their Hall of Justice building at 369 S. High Street (labeled #3 in the below photo). The Hall of Justice is a 10-story building built in 1973 that is part of three county office towers on the west side of High Street between Mound and Fulton Streets. The courts and offices in the Hall of Justice building were moved into the new Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse that was completed last year at the northwest corner of Mound & High (labeled #4 in the below photo). Old Hall of Justice will get a face-lift By Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch Friday, March 9, 2012 - 8:09 AM The $58.8 million redevelopment of the vacant Franklin County Hall of Justice likely will take a giant step forward next week. That’s when county commissioners are expected to approve a $2.4 million contract with architect and development firm Schooley Caldwell Associates to repair the guts of 369 S. High Street. The county is still trying to determine how much asbestos needs to be removed from the 39-year-old building, which was shuttered in June when the county opened its $105 million courthouse across Mound Street. The asbestos removal is expected to cost millions, but a final number has not been determined, said Jim Goodenow, the county’s director of facilities management. He hopes the asbestos abatement, already under way, is completed within the next month. Schooley Caldwell is charged with repairing the electrical wiring, plumbing, elevators and structural damage and helping to rid the building of its 1970s feel, commissioners said. The firm has handled other large projects, including the renovation of the Statehouse, Goodenow said. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/03/09/old-hall-of-justice-will-get-a-face-lift.html
September 22, 201212 yr News about Building #2 shown in the above photo of the Franklin County Government Center along South High Street in downtown. Building #2 - the 18-story Franklin County Municipal Court Building - will be undergoing a complete renovation that could take 10 years and cost $90 million. This is the latest project to take place at the County's Gov't Center in recent years: - The first was the construction of a new seven-story, $105-million Common Pleas Courthouse (Building #4). - The next up was the complete renovation of the former Common Pleas Building built in 1973 (Building #3). The occupants of Building #3 completely vacated it and moved into Building #4. Now vacated, Building #3 is getting a 12-story, $58.8 renovation. - The final part of the County's Government Center renovations is Building #2. The 18-story Franklin County Municipal Court Building was built in 1979 and will also be undergoing a complete renovation. This renovation will take place while the building remains occupied. Because of this the Muni Court renovation could take up to 10 years as it gets a complete, but gradual, renovation. - Building #1 is a 26-story Franklin County Office building built in 1991 that houses the Franklin County Commissioners offices and other county department offices. No renovation plans have been announced for this building. More about this latest renovation from the Friday Dispatch article linked below: DISPATCH: Muni Court renovation a $90M, 10-year vision
September 24, 201212 yr Some more about the 18-story Franklin County Municipal Court Building renovation that is located within the County Government Center in downtown Columbus. Above is a closer photo of the Muni Court Building taken from a similar angle as the previously posted photo of the larger Gov't Center. Below is more information about the renovation project from the previously noted Dispatch article 'Muni Court renovation a $90M, 10-year vision': - The 18-story Municipal Court Building is located at 375 S. High Street and was built in 1979. - The goal of the $90 million renovation project is to keep the 33-year-old building operating while converting it into a modern courthouse with improved security, technology, traffic flow and courtroom design. All renovations must be done in compliance with the ADA Act, which didn't exist at the time of the building's construction. - The renovations will be done over 8 to 10 years in phases to spread out the cost and allow the building to continue its Muni Court operations. The first phase of the overall project is expected to begin in Spring 2013. - The first phase is expected to cost $10 million and will include new windows, mechincal and electrical upgrades, improvements to existing elevators and one new elevator. The new elevator will be the biggest challenge in Phase 1 of the project because it will involve driving a new elevator shaft in the building. - The new elevator is necessary to transport prisoners from the basement holding area to holding cells adjacent to courtrooms located on floors 12 thru 15. The current prisoner elevator only reaches the arraignment courtrooms on the 4th floor. Then prisoners must be transferred to a second elevator that is also used by lawyers and courthouse employees - an obvious security concern.
October 15, 201212 yr The Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse received a Merit Award at the 2012 American Institute of Architects Columbus Design Awards. Below is a photo and project information from Business First and Columbus Underground: Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse Where: 345 S. High Street, Downtown Columbus Owner: Franklin County Board of Commissioners Architect of record: DesignGroup Primary design architect: Arquitectonica Landscape architect: Kinzelman Kline Gossman Cost: $92 million Contractor: Gilbane Project Description: “Built upon former surface parking in downtown Columbus, the new Franklin County Courthouse distills elements of a traditional courthouse into a contemporary form. Extensive south-facing exterior glass allow the public to read the building’s internal workings. The courtrooms are visible along a main circulation spine. The elevator core recalls the traditional courthouse clock tower but provides multiple vantage points from elevator cabs and connecting bridges. The horizontal emphasis of the building mass is sympathetic to the scale of historic buildings across High Street and mediates the scale transition to the taller County buildings across Mound Street." Juror comments: "The transparency of the Franklin County courthouse makes the working of the justice system part of the city, not a separate hidden mechanism, conveying an open relationship between justice and the community," wrote Julie Snow, principal of Julie Snow Architects Inc. MORE: http://www.aiacolumbus.org/categoryblog/256-2012-aia-columbus-design-awards
September 8, 201311 yr Hall of Justice overhaul set as county OKs $48M bond sale By Jeff Bell, Staff reporter Business First - July 16, 2013, 11:39am EDT Franklin County commissioners signed off on a $48.3 million bond package Tuesday, with the bulk of the money ($39.4 million) to pay for the long-discussed overhaul of the Hall of Justice building off South High Street downtown. (. . .) The Hall of Justice building has been vacant since June 2011 after the general division of Franklin County Common Pleas Court moved into the new $105 million courthouse at High and Mound streets. Plans call for the first four floors of the Hall of Justice to house county and court tenants. The remaining six floors will be reserved for future growth under a long-term master plan for the Hall of Justice and adjoining Municipal Court Building and Franklin County Courthouse office tower. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2013/07/16/hall-of-justice-overhaul-set-as-county.html
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