In its 47-year history, CMW, Inc. has developed a reputation as Kentucky's unrivalled leader in the planning and design of courthouses and detention facilities. No other firm in Kentucky has planned and designed more detention center or courthouse projects than CMW. With a multi-disciplined staff of over 90, CMW is among the largest architectural / engineering firms in the State. The firm maintains offices in Lexington and Richmond.
Project: Laurel County Justice Center
Location: London, Kentucky
Location: London, Kentucky
The Project consists of the design and construction of a new 88,970 square foot stand-alone judicial facility to meet the current and future program needs of the court system.
The proposed site is in downtown London , two blocks south of the existing Courthouse and directly across from the London Federal Courthouse. Due to the size of the site, site development will include limited amount of on-site parking for court staff and the public.
A vehicle drop-off area at Main Street will be provided to allow public transportation and private vehicles to unload passengers before moving on to park. Additional parking will be available to court staff and the public off-site adjacent to and near the new facility in the downtown area. The building will be set back and raised slightly above the public street to provide a public plaza fore-court to the building which will be paved and landscaped. This will provide the court with a symbolic approach and furnish protection from vehicle intrusion.
The lower level secured parking, the first floor secure prisoner vehicular sallyport, the first floor loading dock and facility garbage collection will each be accessed from Broad Street at the rear of the building.
The basic court floor and the organization of the court sets (paired courtrooms supported by detainee transport, court floor holding cells and attorney conference rooms) generate the basic structure for the building. A two court per floor configuration provides the best balance of circulation and floor plate size to fit the site. The building is organized using the basic tenet of modern justice facilities: complete separation of judges, detainees and the public until their circulation paths come together in the courtrooms.
The current build-out will place two typical courtrooms and two ADR rooms on Level 2; one courtroom and two hearing rooms on Level 3; and two typical courtrooms on Level 4. However, because Levels 2, 3, and 4 have identical floor plates with detainee service cores internal expansion is possible. Level 3 can be reconfigured to provide up to a total of 6 typical courtrooms in the future.
When complete, this building will carefully balance the necessary richness and traditional values of the courts with the emerging societal demands for a more transparent, understandable and friendly civic institution.
Exterior materials will be chosen to present an image of permanence and civic importance. Therefore, the main building material will be brick with accented use of pre-cast concrete. Aluminum and glass curtain wall, storefront and windows will be utilized to open up the public side of the Court to the city. Glazing will have a slight tint and low-E coating for thermal efficiency.
Most spaces in this facility will have finishes that will include acoustical panel ceilings, painted gypsum board walls, rubber base, carpet flooring and solid core wood doors with steel frames. Upgraded finishes will be provided for such spaces as the courtrooms, judges' chambers and main lobby/atrium. These finishes will include wood paneling and trim, stone flooring and ornamental metals as the budget will allow.
The HVAC system will be a water-source heat pump system. Heat pump units will be located above ceilings throughout the building served by a cooling tower located at the roof of the building. Fresh air will be provided by roof-top air handling units with duct trunks down into the building. The main mechanical room will be located at the basement level adjacent to the secure parking garage. The building will be fully suppressed (full sprinkler system) and be equipped with a fire alarm system. Electrical will include all necessary interior and exterior lighting, power and data communication systems throughout the building.
The building will be equipped with security access control and monitoring systems, and audio video systems, and the courts SUSTAIN data management system, as directed by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
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