City, county take steps toward new downtown courthouse, garage

By Tristan Navera  –  Staff reporter, Columbus Business First

 

Columbus City Council has approved buying land downtown to build a new municipal courthouse.

 

The city and county are also working out final designs for the building to be constructed on the site of Dorrian Commons Park and the James A. Karnes Building at the southeast corner of South High Street and East Mound Street between Mound and East Fulton streets.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/03/25/city-county-take-steps-toward-downtown-courthouse.html

Some notes from the article:

 

• The plan is to replace both Dorrian Commons and the ~5 story building to the South. At a budgeted cost of $130 million and taking up the whole block along High St. from E. Mound St. to E. Fulton St., I wonder what size and scale of building we could see here. It would be nice to see a tiered building that could allow for some height, but my guess is we'll see something similar to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

 

• The article mentioned the complex needs 840 additional parking spaces, to be built on the vacant plots of land mentioned previously in this thread. It's insane that our tax dollars continue to coddle the car culture in such a way. I presently live out in Queens, NY. If you have a jury summons, it is printed - specifically, in large letters - do NOT expect to find parking and to take public transit. Why can't summons here have the same message? Or go a step further and include bus routes that serve the complex or discounts on uber/lyft fares? 

8 minutes ago, CMHOhio said:

The article mentioned the complex needs 840 additional parking spaces, to be built on the vacant plots of land mentioned previously in this thread. It's insane that our tax dollars continue to coddle the car culture in such a way. I presently live out in Queens, NY. If you have a jury summons, it is printed - specifically, in large letters - do NOT expect to find parking and to take public transit. Why can't summons here have the same message? Or go a step further and include bus routes that serve the complex or discounts on uber/lyft fares? 

 

Queens County has a population density of over 20k/square mile. Franklin County has a population density of 2.5k/square mile. They are vastly different places. You can't really expect to find convenient parking anywhere in Queens County, while most people in Franklin County expect to find convenient parking because it's always available. The public transportation systems are also vastly different. Depending on where you live in Franklin County, you could spend half of your day just getting to the courthouse and back home if you use COTA. I'm not saying we shouldn't strive to change this, we definitely should, but that's not the job of FCCC. 

 

Also, I would be very opposed to them offering discounts on uber/lyft. I would much prefer to see discounts on bus passes. 

47 minutes ago, CMHOhio said:

Some notes from the article:

 

• The plan is to replace both Dorrian Commons and the ~5 story building to the South. At a budgeted cost of $130 million and taking up the whole block along High St. from E. Mound St. to E. Fulton St., I wonder what size and scale of building we could see here. It would be nice to see a tiered building that could allow for some height, but my guess is we'll see something similar to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

 

• The article mentioned the complex needs 840 additional parking spaces, to be built on the vacant plots of land mentioned previously in this thread. It's insane that our tax dollars continue to coddle the car culture in such a way. I presently live out in Queens, NY. If you have a jury summons, it is printed - specifically, in large letters - do NOT expect to find parking and to take public transit. Why can't summons here have the same message? Or go a step further and include bus routes that serve the complex or discounts on uber/lyft fares? 

Yeah with it taking up as much as it says, and only having $130 million, I don’t see it being much taller than 5-6 stories. 

59 minutes ago, CMHOhio said:

At a budgeted cost of $130 million

 

11 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

and only having $130 million

Just FYI, the article wasn't reporting that the building will cost $130 million in total, just that $130 million was earmarked for it in the 2019 bond package.  To my understanding, it may cost more.

 

According to another article: "Much of the construction would be funded by the $1.03 billion bond package that voters approved last year, which included $130 million earmarked for the courthouse project."

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/01/23/city-county-exploring-plan-for-new-downtown.html

Edited March 25, 20214 yr by TH3BUDDHA

1 minute ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

 

Just FYI, the articles aren't reporting that the building will cost $130 million in total, just that $130 million was earmarked for it in the 2019 bond package.  It may cost more.

 

According to one article: "Much of the construction would be funded by the $1.03 billion bond package that voters approved last year, which included $130 million earmarked for the courthouse project."

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/01/23/city-county-exploring-plan-for-new-downtown.html

 

New 30 story tower confirmed!

2 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

New 30 story tower confirmed!

Obviously joking, but I do seem to recall that there was an article where they were talking about how they wanted this to be an iconic addition to the skyline.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Also, who knows what their definition of "iconic" is, though.

Edited March 25, 20214 yr by TH3BUDDHA

43 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Queens County has a population density of over 20k/square mile. Franklin County has a population density of 2.5k/square mile. They are vastly different places. You can't really expect to find convenient parking anywhere in Queens County, while most people in Franklin County expect to find convenient parking because it's always available. The public transportation systems are also vastly different. Depending on where you live in Franklin County, you could spend half of your day just getting to the courthouse and back home if you use COTA. I'm not saying we shouldn't strive to change this, we definitely should, but that's not the job of FCCC. 

 

Also, I would be very opposed to them offering discounts on uber/lyft. I would much prefer to see discounts on bus passes. 

 

My point in referencing what Queens County courts prints on their summons was more so to demonstrate that there are alternatives to just adding more parking - ones that I think government agencies should absolutely employ. I am more than aware of the density/transportation differences between Columbus and Queens. 

5 minutes ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

Obviously joking, but I do seem to recall that there was an article where they were talking about how they wanted this to be an iconic addition to the skyline.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Also, who knows what their definition of "iconic" is, though.

 

The word "iconic" has become almost meaningless. When people say things like "the iconic Oreo packaging" you know it's over.

Just now, GCrites80s said:

 

The word "iconic" has become almost meaningless. When people say things like "the iconic Oreo packaging" you know it's over.

I don't know.  If they come out and say they want to add "iconic Oreo packaging" to this building, I'll probably find that pretty meaningful.

Na-bis-coooo🎺

34 minutes ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

 

Just FYI, the article wasn't reporting that the building will cost $130 million in total, just that $130 million was earmarked for it in the 2019 bond package.  To my understanding, it may cost more.

 

According to another article: "Much of the construction would be funded by the $1.03 billion bond package that voters approved last year, which included $130 million earmarked for the courthouse project."

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/01/23/city-county-exploring-plan-for-new-downtown.html

That’s true, good call and thanks for pointing that out. It should be done right and hopefully it will be great. Anything at the 15 story range wouldn’t be bad, but if they want it to be iconic, let’s go for 30+ 

5 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

Some notes from the article:

 

• The plan is to replace both Dorrian Commons and the ~5 story building to the South. At a budgeted cost of $130 million and taking up the whole block along High St. from E. Mound St. to E. Fulton St., I wonder what size and scale of building we could see here. It would be nice to see a tiered building that could allow for some height, but my guess is we'll see something similar to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
• The article mentioned the complex needs 840 additional parking spaces, to be built on the vacant plots of land mentioned previously in this thread. It's insane that our tax dollars continue to coddle the car culture in such a way. I presently live out in Queens, NY. If you have a jury summons, it is printed - specifically, in large letters - do NOT expect to find parking and to take public transit. Why can't summons here have the same message? Or go a step further and include bus routes that serve the complex or discounts on uber/lyft fares? 

 

To be fair, Columbus doesn't have near the public transit that NYC does.  I wish it did.  Even so, continuing to build for the car is a good way to never improve that situation.  And let's be honest, Downtown realistically already has enough parking, but people just get triggered by having to walk further than the length of an average Walmart parking lot, so every project is required to have its own.  Columbus leadership is super regressive on this issue.

5 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Yeah with it taking up as much as it says, and only having $130 million, I don’t see it being much taller than 5-6 stories. 

 

If so, it would again violate the development standards the city has for High Street.  

7 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

. It would be nice to see a tiered building that could allow for some height, but my guess is we'll see something similar to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court 

 

This was my thought as well. There is something to be said for an 'iconic' Tower but i don't think I necessarily care if it's iconic in that location or not. Using the county color scheme, I would not be upset for something like this. Maybe wrap around on Mound

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

 

This was my thought as well. There is something to be said for an 'iconic' Tower but i don't think I necessarily care if it's iconic in that location or not. Using the county color scheme, I would not be upset for something like this. Maybe wrap around on Mound

 

 

 

Yes, this is how it should look! 

1 hour ago, DTCL11 said:

 

This was my thought as well. There is something to be said for an 'iconic' Tower but i don't think I necessarily care if it's iconic in that location or not. Using the county color scheme, I would not be upset for something like this. Maybe wrap around on Mound

 

 

 

As someone who works 5 minutes from this building, it is pretty hard to miss. Outdoor terraces every few floors and external structure. Would be a funny partner to the shifting façade building across the highway at 500 S Front

46 minutes ago, jebleprls22 said:

As someone who works 5 minutes from this building, it is pretty hard to miss. Outdoor terraces every few floors and external structure. Would be a funny partner to the shifting façade building across the highway at 500 S Front

 

When you get a chance, please please please get a photo and video of the kinetic screen on parking deck near there. Maybe 1 or 2 blocks south ?  It was being installed when I was there last winter and it's how I wish they had done the convention center garage. The way it moves is so awesome. 

We should have a thread for guesses on how tall the new courthhouse will be. Given the large area they have, I am going with 7 floors because I can't decide between six or eight.

 

The very nice looking building posted a few posts ahead of this is probably out of the league of city officials here unfortunately IMO. I expect something like the Coleman center or the new court building southwest of Main and High.  Not to be a downer, just trying to be realistic.

 

*Are we allowed to make a "guess the height/floors" thread?

4 hours ago, jonoh81 said:

 

If so, it would again violate the development standards the city has for High Street.  

They have done that with several projects already like the 11 floors down to six next to where the cleaners was(leaving that dead looking bare wall), not to mention the six floors between Gay and Long(I can't remember the name, but I know you know it as you dislike it as much as I do...Is it the Nichols?) What should stop them from doing it again?  Is the standard 8 floors or ten with an encouragement for more-something like that? 

It's probably unnoticed but the existing garage is actually set up for garden terraces and a green facade. Would be nice to have these restored and maybe even have the new building continue this tie in like above. 

 

I actually don't hate the existing garage. It's one of the better garages, especially given its age. Perhaps a bit brutalist but (don't crucify me) I actually don't hate brutalism. Revamp the area under the overhang into a better plaza, especially with the loss of Dorian but otherwise, it doesn't read as boring garage other than the recessed bottom are where additional screening or art in a new plaza could address that. 

25 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

We should have a thread for guesses on how tall the new courthhouse will be. Given the large area they have, I am going with 7 floors because I can't decide between six or eight.

 

You and anyone else can "guess the height" in this thread without the need for a new thread.  That kind of speculation would be on-topic and appropriate.

With needing 840 parking spaces, the garage might actually be decent size by itself. The Astor park garage will have 600 spaces, and it seems like it has more room to be built on. I could see this garage needing to be 6-7 stories. 

28 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

It's probably unnoticed but the existing garage is actually set up for garden terraces and a green facade. Would be nice to have these restored and maybe even have the new building continue this tie in like above. 

 

I actually don't hate the existing garage. It's one of the better garages, especially given its age. Perhaps a bit brutalist but (don't crucify me) I actually don't hate brutalism. Revamp the area under the overhang into a better plaza, especially with the loss of Dorian but otherwise, it doesn't read as boring garage other than the recessed bottom are where additional screening or art in a new plaza could address that. 

 

I've always liked that garage too.  The brutalist design has aged well some 40+ years on - particularly the Mound Street side (see below).  I could see a new courthouse taking some cues from it, but with a freshened up 21st-century approach.

1 hour ago, Toddguy said:

They have done that with several projects already like the 11 floors down to six next to where the cleaners was(leaving that dead looking bare wall), not to mention the six floors between Gay and Long(I can't remember the name, but I know you know it as you dislike it as much as I do...Is it the Nichols?) What should stop them from doing it again?  Is the standard 8 floors or ten with an encouragement for more-something like that? 

 

Minimum is supposed to be 10 stories, I believe.  Only 250 High has met that.  

Does the City occupy the entire 19 story municipal court building? If so, I could see the need for a taller new building. The new building will have a larger footprint along High (Mound to Fulton) so it might not need to be as tall as the old building. I suppose there might be a plaza at Mound and High to complement the two plazas on the west side of High.

 

3 hours ago, Pablo said:

Does the City occupy the entire 19 story municipal court building? If so, I could see the need for a taller new building. The new building will have a larger footprint along High (Mound to Fulton) so it might not need to be as tall as the old building. I suppose there might be a plaza at Mound and High to complement the two plazas on the west side of High.

 

I guess that is the big unknown-will they use the entire space for the building or only a portion of it. I am hoping for the latter.

21 hours ago, Columbo said:

 

I've always liked that garage too.  The brutalist design has aged well some 40+ years on - particularly the Mound Street side (see below).  I could see a new courthouse taking some cues from it, but with a freshened up 21st-century approach.

The absolute irony that this brutalist parking garage in Columbus, OH is probably one of the most interesting and well-positioned brutalist works of architecture that I've seen. Reminiscent of the Fort Lauderdale courthouse:

 

Would be incredibly interesting if an architect actually paid attention to the adjacent garage... Though highly doubtful

Edited March 26, 20214 yr by jebleprls22

23 hours ago, DTCL11 said:

 

When you get a chance, please please please get a photo and video of the kinetic screen on parking deck near there. Maybe 1 or 2 blocks south ?  It was being installed when I was there last winter and it's how I wish they had done the convention center garage. The way it moves is so awesome. 

Found this online -- I've walked past this and 100% not noticed it before, so I'll take a closer look this evening!

 

Older file photo of Dorrian Commons Park the Dispatch ran with the below linked article about Columbus City Council likely to approve a real estate agreement to purchase it and the James A. Karnes Building located at 410 S. High Street adjacent to Dorrian Commons Park:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/21/new-courthouse-security-columbus-parks-city-council-docket/7749194002/

 

From today's article:

 

"Columbus City Council on Monday is expected to approve a real estate agreement to purchase a Downtown site that will become the new Municipal Courthouse. ... After years of discussing whether Columbus would renovate the more than 40-year-old Franklin County Municipal Courthouse, city council members will approve an agreement with the county to purchase the Karnes Building and Dorrian Commons.  The park has been closed off for years by fencing."

 

"The (City and County) reached a memorandum of understanding in March outlining the terms of the contract and are now moving forward with the agreement.  The city will spend $7 million to acquire the site for the future construction of a new facility to house the Municipal Court, the Municipal Court Clerk's office and other city offices associated with the court."

 

The new building will be located at 410 S. High Street and future construction will span across the underused Dorrian park and land occupied by the Karnes Building south from Mound to Fulton streets.  The new Municipal Court building would be renamed after Michael J. Dorrian, the late county commissioner — "a fitting tribute," county commissioner John O'Grady told The Dispatch in January 2020."

 

"The current Municipal Court building (across the street) would be renovated and used as future office space for the county, probably to include sheriff’s office operations now housed in the Karnes building, O’Grady said then."

On 6/21/2021 at 12:24 PM, Columbo said:

 

Older file photo of Dorrian Commons Park the Dispatch ran with the below linked article about Columbus City Council likely to approve a real estate agreement to purchase it and the James A. Karnes Building located at 410 S. High Street adjacent to Dorrian Commons Park:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/21/new-courthouse-security-columbus-parks-city-council-docket/7749194002/

 

From today's article:

 

"Columbus City Council on Monday is expected to approve a real estate agreement to purchase a Downtown site that will become the new Municipal Courthouse. ... After years of discussing whether Columbus would renovate the more than 40-year-old Franklin County Municipal Courthouse, city council members will approve an agreement with the county to purchase the Karnes Building and Dorrian Commons.  The park has been closed off for years by fencing."

 

"The (City and County) reached a memorandum of understanding in March outlining the terms of the contract and are now moving forward with the agreement.  The city will spend $7 million to acquire the site for the future construction of a new facility to house the Municipal Court, the Municipal Court Clerk's office and other city offices associated with the court."

 

The new building will be located at 410 S. High Street and future construction will span across the underused Dorrian park and land occupied by the Karnes Building south from Mound to Fulton streets.  The new Municipal Court building would be renamed after Michael J. Dorrian, the late county commissioner — "a fitting tribute," county commissioner John O'Grady told The Dispatch in January 2020."

 

"The current Municipal Court building (across the street) would be renovated and used as future office space for the county, probably to include sheriff’s office operations now housed in the Karnes building, O’Grady said then."

Glad to hear they're thinking reuse of the old building rather than demolition -- just because it isn't ideal as a courthouse building doesn't mean it can't make totally reasonable office space!

 

And I'm sure it's been mentioned here, but it seems like Toronto's new courthouse building would be a great precedent...

 

21 hours ago, jebleprls22 said:

Glad to hear they're thinking reuse of the old building rather than demolition -- just because it isn't ideal as a courthouse building doesn't mean it can't make totally reasonable office space!

 

And I'm sure it's been mentioned here, but it seems like Toronto's new courthouse building would be a great precedent...

 

That would also match the common pleas court! Hopefully they do something nice. 

Edited June 25, 20213 yr by VintageLife

Columbus picks Pizzuti to oversee municipal court project
 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/07/12/pizzuti-will-manage-new-municipal-court-build-out.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_CO&csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3d5NnWwYXXpxZOA2V_p6vwJQK5ecXlkl3icYxVKZYumICHbRO1NkEptvA

2 hours ago, amped91 said:

Columbus picks Pizzuti to oversee municipal court project
 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/07/12/pizzuti-will-manage-new-municipal-court-build-out.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_CO&csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3d5NnWwYXXpxZOA2V_p6vwJQK5ecXlkl3icYxVKZYumICHbRO1NkEptvA

I like a lot of Pizzuti’s stuff. I feel like it will mimic the Pleas Court even more now. 

Nothing really solid here, but more proposals coming in:

 

Franklin County master plan recommends replacing Downtown jail with child care center
 

“County officials also are in the final stages of the first phase of a new jail facility, located on Fisher Road west of Downtown. That location is expected to open to inmates early next year, and county officials will close the aged Downtown jail afterward.

The updated master plan calls for the latter to be demolished and replaced with a child care facility for staff or members of the public visiting county offices.”

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/08/06/franklin-county-master-plan-proposes-new-downtown-child-care-center/5456234001/?fbclid=IwAR32H-ovm5sMaxrnAN6GqMYUFUYgMHM3kRV7T5D5esjQ6HRgYU3U4YsUVts

On 8/6/2021 at 9:02 AM, amped91 said:

Nothing really solid here, but more proposals coming in:

 

Franklin County master plan recommends replacing Downtown jail with child care center
 

“County officials also are in the final stages of the first phase of a new jail facility, located on Fisher Road west of Downtown. That location is expected to open to inmates early next year, and county officials will close the aged Downtown jail afterward.

The updated master plan calls for the latter to be demolished and replaced with a child care facility for staff or members of the public visiting county offices.”

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/08/06/franklin-county-master-plan-proposes-new-downtown-child-care-center/5456234001/?fbclid=IwAR32H-ovm5sMaxrnAN6GqMYUFUYgMHM3kRV7T5D5esjQ6HRgYU3U4YsUVts

I certainly hope they don't mean some low-rise standalone facility... Bake that into the new facility they're designing for across the street. 

Has anyone heard anything about if the new construction is still going to happen? It’s annoying the Dorrian Commons Park has been fenced off for a couple years now yet no movement…

Dorrian was fenced off for reasons other than future construction. With or without a new project, the county wanted people to stay out. 

 

From the 2021 Dispatch article "Even under the most expeditious scenario, we're years away" 

 

There seemed to be alot of buzz in a short amount of time but the county is in no rush. It seems more like a long term conceptual master plan process that they intend to walk with than a short term transformational master plan they intend to implement quickly. 

 

The new jail received its press tour last week with a target of receiving new inmates this fall it seems. I can't find any hard dates on when one opens and when the downtown jail is expected to close. 

 

Perhaps we will hear more once the transition is complete but I might put my money on nothing spectacular. Especially at this point in the Covid pandemic. They already have a surplus of space, and requiring employees to come into offices can result in significant resignations so it's causing entities to consider the long term viability of offices. At first it was the long term viability of safety in offices. Then it was whether people would want to.  Some companies and agencies are finding that as soon as they flip the switch to in person, they lose significant staff and further struggle to recruit.

 

So then do you suffer through recruiting and being short staffed or amend policies to be more flexible and further reduce office space needed? 

 

Lots to figure out and the county is less motivated to do anything quickly right now. 

I hadn’t realized before that the public safety bond issue included funds for the downtown courthouse. 
 

CITY LEADERS OUTLINE HOW $1.5 BILLION BOND PACKAGE WOULD SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY

 

“If approved by Columbus voters, funding would be allocated as follows: 

 

$30 million: Police facility renovations

$18 million: Fire apparatus replacements

$33 million: Fire facility renovations

$219 million: Franklin County Municipal Court building.”

 

https://www.columbus.gov/Templates/Detail.aspx?id=2147527580

 

 The issue was overwhelmingly approved, and Axios Columbus is reporting this is indeed the new courthouse building. 
 

https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/11/10/midterms-columbus-ohio-15-billion-bond-package

41 minutes ago, amped91 said:

I hadn’t realized before that the public safety bond issue included funds for the downtown courthouse. 
 

CITY LEADERS OUTLINE HOW $1.5 BILLION BOND PACKAGE WOULD SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY

 

“If approved by Columbus voters, funding would be allocated as follows: 

 

$30 million: Police facility renovations

$18 million: Fire apparatus replacements

$33 million: Fire facility renovations

$219 million: Franklin County Municipal Court building.”

 

https://www.columbus.gov/Templates/Detail.aspx?id=2147527580

 

 The issue was overwhelmingly approved, and Axios Columbus is reporting this is indeed the new courthouse building. 
 

https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/11/10/midterms-columbus-ohio-15-billion-bond-package

That seems like a decent amount for a good sized building. 

6 hours ago, VintageLife said:

That seems like a decent amount for a good sized building. 

It does. Wonder how much the county will be kicking in too?

 

Just the $219 is only about $45 shy of what the Hilton tower cost, according to CBF. Hoping the new courthouse has some decent height too. 

Are the suburbs that also use the municipal court contributing as well? 

 

1 hour ago, NW24HX said:

Are the suburbs that also use the municipal court contributing as well? 

 

The way I understand it is that Columbus City pays for the land and the building, and then Franklin County pays the city back in lease payments. If someone else has a better understanding of the agreement, though, I’d love to hear their explanation. 

Wonder how accurate the information here is:

 

https://www.constructionjournal.com/projects/details/de9e4e8033e441faa035672cf2f34036.html

 

It states an anticipated start date of July 2023, and possibly 7-10 story building. 

The logistics of a court building including modern technology, security, and presumably finishes will drive up costs significantly. 

 

The county courthouse details are relatively similar to what is being soliticed for the new one and that was $105 mil in 2010 dollars. 

 

I really don't anticipate anything more than a typical government building. It will likely largely be in line With the county courthouse, the new Coleman Government building, etc. Pizzutti was also responsible for the Franklin County Courthouse. 

 

I think any aspirations of something iconic are going to be quickly tempered and something that compliments and balances the current courthouse is much more likely. 

 

 

 

"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.

At 325,000 square feet, the building will have 32 courtrooms, 32 office suites for judges, magistrates and their personnel, a detention facility, jury room and new Clerk of Courts office. About 220 people will work in the building."

Courthouse Still Planned for Downtown Park That Was Fenced Off Years Ago
 

“The parkland and the four-story James A. Karnes Building are both owned by Franklin County. The city of Columbus is in contract to buy the properties, according to city officials, and has already allocated money toward the project (from a bond package that was approved by voters in 2019). 

 

Kathy Owens, the city’s Director of Finance, said that negotiations are ongoing with a local architectural firm to design the new courthouse, and expects a contract to be in place in January. She couldn’t provide information on the exact square footage of the planned building, saying that the architect will conduct an assessment of the current and future space needs of the court.

 

The Franklin County Municipal Court is currently housed in an 18-story building at 375 S. High St. Dedicated in 1979, county officials have said that the building is likely to be renovated for another use, although no details have been released about that project. 

 

Overall, the design process for the new courthouse will take about 18 months, Owens said, followed by a three-year construction timeline.”

 

https://columbusunderground.com/courthouse-still-planned-for-downtown-park-that-was-fenced-off-years-ago-bw1/

Looks like the city will select Moody Nolan to design the new municipal court building. 
 

https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6203990&GUID=C91B0561-A7A7-4017-A5D6-1FCCCC64A4EA

1 hour ago, amped91 said:

Looks like the city will select Moody Nolan to design the new municipal court building. 
 

https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6203990&GUID=C91B0561-A7A7-4017-A5D6-1FCCCC64A4EA

I like most of their work, so I’m excited to see what they come up with. Hopefully something more along the lines of the Harvard researched building, currently under construction. 

TOWER! TOWER! TOWER! 

5 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

TOWER! TOWER! TOWER! 

Eh I’m going to guess 7-8 story