Wednesday, May 7, 2003
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Wednesday, May 7, 2003 |
New justice center makes an impression
By JOHN
THOMPSON Although it's just a short walk from the county's old courthouse to the new justice center, the difference in the two facilities is light years apart. County officials unveiled the $32 million center recently to gasps of "Wow" from members of the Fayette press corps. So far, the justice center features 100,000 square feet of polished wood, color-coordinated space for the county's judicial employees and lawyers to call home during the work day. The center also features another 50,000 square feet of unfinished space on the third floor for future expansion, said project manager David Jaeger of Mallet & Associates. "We're extremely pleased with this project. It opened on time and under budget," he added. The center features space for all court workers, including the judges and support staff. Jaeger said inspiration for the design of the handsome brick structure came from other judicial centers in Clayton and Douglas counties along with a center in North Carolina. Judging by smiles of employees in the facility, it seems like workers are far happier than they were in their old cramped facilities across the street. "We got a lot of input from the workers on what type of space they needed," Jaeger said. Instead of conducting mediation in the halls, attorneys and clients now have six mediation rooms for negotiations. The center also features a jury assembly room with comfortable chairs and offices for all the judges. Jaeger also said the center is state of the art when it comes to security. Judges have their own entrances into the building, and a tunnel leads from the jail to the justice center to isolate prisoners from the general public. The design of the facility also allows the front half to be accessible to the public, while the back half is secure for judges and staff, Jaeger said. The center features four courtrooms, six jury deliberation rooms and a law library. The center also has a high energy efficient heating and air system to cut down on energy costs. Fayette's justice center has been open for three weeks, and the employees are thrilled with it. "It's just a wonderful facility, and we're glad to finally be here," said Clerk of Superior Court Sheila Studdard.
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