Gwinnett County Justice Center to Grow

The overcrowded county courthouse, better known as the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, is slated for an expansion using sales tax funds from the voter-approved 2009 SPLOST program that went into effect this month.

On Tuesday, commissioners awarded a $2.8 million contract for design and construction administration to the highest scoring of 14 bidders, Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects, Ltd., of Alpharetta. They will work closely with DLR Group-Orlando, a justice market specialist.

“We’re fortunate to have a site with room to add a new 200,000 square-foot wing on the east end of the building,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister. The three-story addition will house new courtrooms and support offices with prisoner holding facilities and secure indoor parking in the basement. A new parking deck is also included in the plan.

The SPLOST referendum approved by voters last November was originally estimated to raise $850 million over five years with $95 million specified for the courthouse expansion. But with sales tax collections falling in the recession, those estimates are now downgraded to a total of $785 million with $79 million for the courthouse wing. The County may leave some space unfinished until later pending final SPLOST collections.

Pieper O’Brien Herr is ranked among the top 25 architectural and interior design firms by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and DLR Group has been ranked first in criminal justice design by BD World Architecture magazine for the last six years.

The current SPLOST program also includes money for roads, parks, libraries, public safety facilities and city governments in Gwinnett.