2001 / new construction / 27,900 sf

The Juvenile Justice Center, completed in 2001, exceeded community standards by maintaining a vital community asset in a downtown location, incorporating public art as part of the building, and involving the youth in the design process. The design team consolidated County services, enhanced accessibility, and achieved a safe and humane environment within a secure building. A strong focus of the design process was to add natural light, functionality and layout efficiency to improve the overall facility. To complicate matters, the architect and contractor were challenged to achieve a smooth transition of construction phases while maintaining the day to day work operations of the existing facility. Sensitive to the area and the community, the team, researched and used building materials and elements sympathetic and similar to the properties on the site with the idea of blending the sites together to create a campus feeling. Finally, to enhance the community, an abstract tile mural is featured on the west exterior wall of the completed facility. The mural is a collaboration of the design team, and the youth involved in the center. The mural is a symbolic, emotional, and gripping splash of color, which enhances the design features of the building and creates an urban presence in a downtown city block.