JUSTICE FACILITIES
We create public safety facilities that define and influence the image of our communities
ARCHITECTURE
4 PRACTICE SITES
45 YEARS OF OPERATION
200+ EMPLOYEES
ENGINEERING
INTERIOR DESIGN
URBAN DESIGN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
PINE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER | Pine City, Minnesota
DESIGN LEADERSHIP
Enriching lives and strengthening communities
OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
BKV Group enhances the physical and cultural environment through meaningful, responsive, multi-disciplinary design. Supported by innovative technology and a strategic market focus, we work to transform communities locally, nationally, and internationally. We believe the craft is as important as the science, especially in giving soul to the process and built environment. Through a highly participatory endeavor, our design strategies express a “rootedness” in their surroundings. This strategy goes beyond the specific building to deliberately capture the expression of people, site, and culture. It is a contextually sensitive approach that is based on, and reactive to, our clients’ goals, budget, vision, and focus, with our creative process engaging all team members to transform and positively shape communities around the globe.
NATIONAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP TEAM
NATIONAL [SECTOR] LEADERSHIP TEAM
KYLE YARDLEY
FIRST LAST
Government Managing Partner Chicago, IL
HENRY PITTNER
FIRST LAST
Justice Practice Leader, Partner Chicago, IL
MICHAEL HEALY
Public Safety Practice Leader, Associate Partner Minneapolis, MN
FIRST LAST
PAUL MICHELL
Government Managing Partner Minneapolis, MN
PHIL CALLISON
Government Managing Partner Dallas, TX
FIRST LAST Title
One firm with four practice site locations
OUR NATIONAL REACH
Collaborating regionally, BKV Group operates as a cohesive firm delivering a wide range of public safety projects for a diverse set of national and local clients. We leverage industry-leading communication and technology tools with best-in-class design processes to seamlessly work across practice sites to meet our clients’ needs, and continually expand our presence into existing and new markets.
Knowledge and experience for a wide range of project types
DESIGN VERSATILITY
BKV Group provides knowledge and experience for a wide range of government project and sector types, plus has familiarity in working with a spectrum of project partners. Our designers have a profound responsibility to drive positive change in our communities. We are passionate about helping our clients identify, pursue, and achieve ambitious goals in creating unique, meaningful places of value and purpose.
PROJECT TYPES
+ Renovations
+ Adaptive Reuse
+ Repositioning
+ New Construction
PROJECT PARTNERS
+ Developers
+ Government Entities
+ Brokers
+ Architects
+ Property Managers
+ Landscape Architects
+ MEP Engineers
+ Civil Engineers
+ Structural Engineers
PROJECT SECTORS
+ GOVERNMENT
– Fire
– Law Enforcement
– Justice
– Detention
– City Halls
– Public Works
– EOC
– Community Centers
– Parks & Recreation
+ LIBRARY
+ EDUCATION
INTERIOR DESIGN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
CLIENT
INTERIOR DESIGN
ENGINEERING
INTERIOR DESIGN
INTERIOR DESIGN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN URBAN DESIGN
Designing to the cultural fabric of the community
OUR PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Our team offers comprehensive experience in all types of developments, ranging from small-scale to large-scale communities. This is demonstrated through the variety of housing types we design; all which have an overarching goal to establish the highest quality of public safety design that promotes and enhances community redevelopment.
+ Project Visioning and Goal Setting
+ Public and Stakeholder Engagement
+ Planning and Pre-Development Services
+ Funding Strategies and Capital Improvement Planning
+ Innovative Building Technology
+ Health, Safety & Wellfare Strategies
+ Trauma Informed Design
+ Workplace and Employee Amenity Design Leadership
INGHAM COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX | Mason, Michigan
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Capabilities and Services
BKV Group, through rigorous continuing education, provides design solutions at the leading edge of innovative technologies. A commitment to integrated design necessitates constant collaboration among all professional disciplines who share a common vision. Our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to serve the unique and diverse needs of each client through a fully-coordinated, single-source team.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Goals and Objectives
Communication Protocols
Project Budget Management
Project Schedule Management
Quality Assurance
PLANNING AND FEASIBILITY
Existing Condition Assessment
Functional Workflow Assessment
Health and Safety Assessment
Capital Improvement Planning
Phased Property Planning
Space Needs Analysis
Space Standard Diagrams
GIS Drive-time Analysis
Land Use and Zoning Analysis
Site Selection Study
Site Feasibility and Planning
Building Planning and Stacking
Project Master Planning
Total Project Cost Estimating
Total Cost of Ownership Analysis
ARCHITECTURE
Visioning and Conceptual Design
Construction Documentation
CSI-format Specifications
Building Science/ Forensics
Cost Estimating and Value Engineering
Critical Path Scheduling
Building Information Modeling
Computer Rendering
Immersive 3D Visioning
INTERIOR DESIGN
Space Planning
Interior Concept Renderings
Material Finish Selection
Durability Analysis
Infection Control Analysis
Furniture and Equipment Selection
Art & Accessories Staging
FF&E Budgeting and Procurement
BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
Project Discovery
Project Messaging, Positioning & Strategy
Naming
Visual Identity/Logo
Brand Guidelines & Programming Standards
Digital & Print Collateral
Marketing Floor Plans
Promotional Merchandise Design
Environmental Design/Graphics
Visual Identity Systems (Wayfinding Signage)
Social Media Templates
Website Design Concepts
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Energy Use/Conservation Analysis
HVAC System Lifecycle Analysis
Building Commissioning
System Operations and Training
Building Automation Controls
Sequencing
Fire Protection Systems
Plumbing & Piping System Design
Electrical Engineering
Photometric Lighting Design
Power Distribution Design
Generator
Load Analysis
Photovoltaic Integration
Data and A/V System Design
Security Hardware and Cameras
Fire Alarm System Specification
Alert Notification Design
Power and Systems Commissioning
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Structural Analysis and Design
Structural System Comparisons
Existing Structure Evaluations
Dynamic Vibration Analysis
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Land-Use and Zoning Analysis
Planting and Hardscape Design
Boundary/Screening Yard Design
Rainwater Collection and Irrigation
Tree Inventory and Analysis
Streetscape Design
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Owners Project Requirements
Simple Box Analysis
Comprehensive Energy Modeling
Basic Commissioning
Daylight Modeling and Calculations
Custom Systems Analysis
Typical Meteorological Year Analysis
ASHRAE Calculations
LEED Project Tracking and Submissions
LEED Construction Phase Oversight
Green Communities Submissions
National Green Building Standard
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Contractor Selection Assistance
Cost Control and Evaluation
Scheduling Oversight
Construction Observation
Quality Control Management
Move-in Coordination
Photography Coordination
Grand Opening Coordination
Eleven-Month Warranty Walk-Through
HSTORIC PRESERVATION
Historic Structures Report
Adaptive Reuse Options
Measuring and Documentation
OUR PROCESS
BKV Group provides total building design: from the aesthetics of branding, to the science of building technology, to the challenge of creative cost control.
DISCOVER YOUR STORY
CONCEPT/ VISIONING
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Immersing our holistic team in your project from the very beginning to understand your culture, values, objectives, challenges, and location serve as inspiration to develop the project story and the officer experience. These insights inform the overarching vision/ concept narrative that will drive every spect of the design.
PLANNING: FUNCTION/OPERATIONS MEET FORM/DESIGN
With the story in mind, Schematic Design focuses on function. BKV works with your operations team to understand the operational flow and adjacencies in order to plan efficient layouts that function well for your staff, while creating the experiential path of travel for your staff. Preliminary massing, space plans, initial finish and FF&E selections are developed at this time resulting in a design that embodies your goals, concept narrative, and functional needs.
REFINING THE DESIGN
Refinement of the concept and documentation occur during this phase by marrying the space planning with the concept in a 3-dimensional illustration of the design. Visualization presentations may include wireframe and/or rendered studies, plans, key elevations, initial detail, material and FF&E selections, and virtual reality walk throughs when warranted.
TECHNICAL DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Construction Documents include Massing Diagrams, Reference, Floor, Finish, Furniture, and Reflected Ceiling Plans; Elevations; Sections; Details; Schedules; and Specifications necessary for your contractor and procurement professionals to execute the project. Documents are coordinated with in-house disciplines and outside consultants, and reviewed for QA/QC. Project bidding, permitting, cost verification, and VE may occur prior to construction.
EXECUTION
During Construction and Installation, BKV’s team is actively engaged with the your General Contractor and Procurement teams: periodic site visits to monitor construction progress, responding to RFIs and submittals, helping the team address challenges that arise in the field, and review of FF&E, artwork and Accessory installation. Our team responds quickly to keep the project progressing.
LEECH LAKE JUSTICE CENTER AND TRIBAL POLICE | Cass Lake, Minnesota
BKV Group carefully examines trends in the public safety industry so we can lead discussions about how they may affect your community in the future
LISTENING & INFORMATION GATHERING (CLIENT
ENGAGEMENT)
We immerse our team in our client’s communities to gain a deep understanding of their culture, values, objectives, challenges, comps, audience, opportunities, and differentiators. We listen to operations, maintenance, resident and owner concerns and long-term goals, and participate in site visits to identify areas of opportunity. This data will guide the social, wellness, and service programming for the project and will steer the creative direction.
Project Framing & Visioning
Site Information
Demographics
Comparative Landscape
Operational & Facility Condition Assessments
Programming & Space Needs Assessments
INGHAM COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX | Mason, Michigan
HOLISTIC CAPABILITIES
BKV Group excels in fire station planning and design, boasting over 200 projects for 130 clients nationwide. Our multidisciplinary team combines architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and engineering expertise, offering comprehensive support beyond just interiors. We stay ahead of industry trends, researching topics like evolving apparatus, interoperability, and sustainability to ensure our designs meet future needs. Additionally, we provide cost assessment, budget review, and phased implementation assistance, all while tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each fire department we work with.
VISUALIZATION
We use visual storytelling and mood boards to express the energy of the project. Wireframe visualization studies help convey spatial relationships, and rendered concept studies showcase material exploration.
Virtual Reality walk-throughs allow clients to experience the space in 3D. From initial mock ups to the finalized design, VR allows for project collaboration across all team members.
CONSTRUCTION / INSTALLATION
BKV works hand in hand with our clients, their general contractors, and installation teams throughout project construction. Timely communication is the key to implementation of a finished product that successfully realizes our clients vision.
BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
BKV Group is one of the few national design firms offering an in-house Branded Environments unit who, in addition, assist our design teams in navigating through the initial research, strategy and discovery phases, shaping brands early in the project life cycle that will inform how spaces are designed, marketed and experienced.
OUR SERVICES
Project Brand Discovery
Project Brand Messaging, Positioning & Strategy
Naming
Visual Identity/Logo
Brand Guidelines
Brand Applications
Digital & Print Collateral
Marketing Materials
Promotional Merchandise Design
Environmental Graphics / Installations
Visual Identity Systems (Wayfinding Signage)
Social Media Templates
Website Design
Creating positive impacts on people, the planet, and providing the greatest value for our clients
VISION
Architecture is beautiful for the harmony it creates between itself, it’s environment, and its inhabitants. Sustainable design is the natural progression of that vision with BKV designed buildings always responding to their context — their location, their function, and how they are used by their occupants. BKV Group has a holistic vision for the building’s life-cycle to appropriately respond to context, function, and use. We leverage sustainable design strategies by tapping into a wide spectrum of knowledge — of architecture, interior design, urban planning, energy modeling, engineering, landscape architecture, technology and science — with our clients receiving the benefit of decades of collective professional expertise. In addition, because there is no predetermined outcome or prototypical concept, our process yields work of extraordinary originality, crafted to the specific needs of the site, user and circumstances.
COMMITMENT TO A CARBON-NEUTRAL PRACTICE
Memberships & Affiliations
AIA Materials Pledge, ASID Materials Pledge, Mindful Materials, B3 Guidelines
2030 Documentation
BKV’s Architects and Designers, Structural, and MEP Engineers report Embodied Carbon and Energy performance for all projects to The AIA 2030 Commitment initiative records
Construction Standardization
Standard Method v1.1 (Greenguard, SCS, Indoor Advantage, FloorScore, CRI Green Label Plus)
Healthy Materials Promise
We work with our vendors to minimize the use of toxic materials and focus our specifications on non-toxic materials. Designers will seek certifications for the materials that are specified by HPD, EPD, Declare, Cradle to Cradle, Living Product, FSC, SCAQMD, CDPH Standard Method v1.1 Greenguard. SCS, Indoor Advantage, Floor Score, CRI Green Lable Plus
Healthy Community Building
Urban design and landscape architecture are critical components of human health
MAPLE GROVE GOVERNMENT CENTER | Maple Grove, Minnesota
JUSTICE FACILITIES EXPERIENCE
LE SUEUR COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Le Center, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New justice center for Le Sueur County.
TYPE
Government, Justice Center, Law Enforcement
SIZE
94,000 SF / 80-Bed Jail / Sheriff’s Office / 3 Courtrooms
With the existing historic courthouse and courthouse annex both in need of expansion, and additional need for jail expansion, the County decided to build a new justice facility a few blocks away from the existing to accommodate Courts, Sheriff’s Department, Probation, County Attorney, Public Defender, Victim Witness Services, Court Administration, Judicial Support, EOC, 911 Communication Center, Law Enforcement Garage and a new 80 bed Jail.
The 80-bed jail portion of the project has separated vehicular flows and parking for staff, in-custody, services, and the public and provides core services for programs, dining, laundry and work release. Throughout the facility judicial staff circulation is separated from public, inmates are securely circulated from the jail to the courts through secure elevators into courts holding, and full security screening is provided for public. Core jail services were sized and located to support future expansion.
The exterior design reflects a modern transparent judicial system but also relates to the existing courthouse design through the use of local Kasota Stone as cladding. The new 94,000 SF facility allows for reconfiguration and remodeling of the entire existing courthouse via phased construction.
LE SUEUR COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER | Le Center, Minnesota
ALPENA COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER & JAIL
Alpena, Michigan
OVERVIEW
New Sheriff’s Offfice and Jail facility.
TYPE
Government, Sheriff’s Office, Jail
SIZE
35,000 SF
The new Sheriff’s Office and Jail facility is currently in the schematic design phase and will be located on a county owned site east of the Alpena County Airport. Pre-design services were completed by another team - unfortunately they were local and did not have experience in planning or constructing a Sheriff’s Office and Jail. Unfortunately for the county, the construction cost was 40% lower than comparable costs in Michigan, and there was a error their space program spread sheet, showing but not calculating required day-room spaces for all the housing units. The county passed a bond referendum unknowingly with bad information. Our task was to maximize their budget and deliver a great facility that met the requirements they described to the voters.
The 108-bed jail will include a new Sheriff’s Office, booking center with a drive-through sallyport, a men’s direct supervision housing unit for 43, women’s intermittent supervision housing unit for 30, Maximum Security / Special Housing for 27 people, Trustee dormitories for 8 people, kitchen, laundry, and Sheriff’s Vehicle and Bulk Storage Facility.
WRIGHT COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Buffalo, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Justice Center Facility
TYPE
Justice Center Facility
SIZE
155,000 SF Justice Center Facility
The new Wright County Justice Center is co-located with the existing Law Enforcement Center and jail for secure inmate transfer to courts. The modern 155,000 square-foot facility includes nine technologically advanced courtrooms with a mass calendar court, a multi-party/family court, an in-custody courtroom and a grand jury court. Departments accommodated include court administration, court services/probation, a law library, county attorney and space for jury assembly. With full security screening for the building, direct secure holding access to all nine courtrooms and secure staff circulation, the Wright County Courthouse is a model for secure courthouse design concepts while also showcasing timeless contemporary design, current initiatives for access to natural light, and thoughtful spaces for staff collaboration.
LEECH LAKE JUSTICE CENTER AND TRIBAL POLICE
Cass Lake, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New Tribal Justice Center.
TYPE
Government, Tribal Justice
SIZE
30,000 SF
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is a Native American tribe located in central Minnesota. The Band has more than 11,000 members, covering over 700,000 acres and located throughout four different counties. The Band’s goal was to develop a centrally located tribal government center that would include a regional justice center and tribal police facility.
In 2011, the Band conducted a study that proposed a government campus on a remote site. In 2014, BKV Group was hired to assist the Band with refining and finalizing the project to help meet their planning and budget goals.
After a series of initial site analysis and space program reviews, our team identified a plan to meet the Band’s long-term planning objective. The plan consists of a single-story 30,000 SF building laid out to create clear circulation and separation between public, staff, and detainees. The plan utilizes efficient engineering systems allowing for convenient future expansion as needed.
The exterior design is in line with the Band’s direction to create a modern design using classical and durable materials. As the design evolved, the team worked with the Band to incorporate cultural aspects that reinforce the sense of community and reflect Ojibwe culture.
INGHAM COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX
Mason, Michigan
OVERVIEW
New justice center with modern facilities.
TYPE
Government, Courts, Detention, Justice Complex, Training
SIZE
180,000 SF
The new 180,000-square-foot Ingham County Justice Complex combines the 55th District Court and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office & Jail on the existing Justice Complex site. It boasts a timeless contemporary exterior design and prioritizes natural light and collaborative staff spaces. Security measures include controlled access points, secure parking, and CCTV, low landscape plantings using CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles).
The main level provides public access and access to Records Management, Finger Printing, the Protective Order Office, Interview Rooms, and restricted access to Investigations.
The facility features a combined Sheriff’s Office/Courthouse entrance with full security screening. Each Courtroom / Hearing room is entered by a sound lock vestibule flanked by two attorney/ client conference rooms. Public spaces are efficiently arranged, including a jury assembly room across from security, various attorney/ official offices, mother rooms, family rooms, and training spaces and classrooms for law enforcement on the fourth level.
The Sheriff’s Office spans four stories, with the lower level serving as the entrance from the secured parking area. It includes shared spaces with the jail, such as the roll call room, locker rooms, outside laundry closet, fitness room, and fast access spaces for the patrol team, with direct access for staff to post in jail.
INGHAM COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX | Mason, Michigan
MAPLE GROVE GOVERNMENT CENTER
Maple Grove, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New cohesive government center
TYPE
Government Center, City Hall, Public Safety
SIZE
150,000 SF
The new government center includes a new city hall, council chambers, emergency operations center, and public safety department, all positioned on a stunning site on the edge of a lake in the Arbor Lakes Development. The character of the government center relies on a cohesive palette of materials utilized to enhance the various volumes and major components of the structure.
LANSING NEW PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER
Lansing, Michigan
OVERVIEW
National leaders oversee Lansing’s Public Safety Center.
TYPE
Government, Public Safety Center
SIZE
Public Safety Building: 212,000 SF
Fire Station #9 – 21,700 SF
Fire Station #2 – 9,900 SF
Fire Station #8 – 18,100 SF
Fire Training – 19,500 SF
Outbuilding – 20,000 SF
BKV Group and local partner Hobbs+Black were chosen nationally to spearhead Lansing’s new Public Safety Building, three Fire Stations, and a Fire Training Facility, with a $175 M budget. Our journey began with guiding the City through the bond referendum, swiftly transitioning to programming and planning.
The Public Safety Building will house Fire Headquarters, Police Station, District Court, and meeting rooms. Additionally, it will feature a temporary lockup. Adjacent will be Fire Station #9, storage, and the Fire Training Facility. Parking, with almost 800 stalls, is a critical consideration.
Elsewhere, Fire Station #2 will see on-site replacement, while Fire Station #8 undergoes a major renovation and addition, doubling as the City’s EOC.
LEED principles will guide the projects, though certification won’t be pursued. Delivered via CMc method, construction starts fall 2023, concluding in 2026, in multiple phases.
CITY OF WARREN, 37TH DISTRICT COURT
Warren, Michigan
OVERVIEW
Integrated justice center with modern facilities.
TYPE
Government, Public Safety Center
SIZE
3-story / 120,000 SF / 6 Courtrooms
Like many older courthouses built in the early 1970s, the existing 37th District Courthouse is lacking security, operational space, zone separation of public, staff, and inmates, and the general appearance of the building exterior and interior areas are dated and lack the character expected in a court building to promote justice and the appropriate behavior of the public and prisoners. Based on these items, the Mayor and City Council decided to proceed with a new replacement courthouse that would be constructed at their current site without reusing the existing building. The challenge is to design a new building while maintaining the existing courthouse and operations until the new courthouse is operational.
The new building wraps around the existing courthouse to allow the existing courthouse to continue operations. The new entrance is on the same side as the existing courthouse and the adjacent police station coming directly from the parking structure access point. The road between the parking structure and the court will be shutdown providing comprehensive security for the site and a logical drop-off point for patrons. Once the new building is completed, the old will be demolished and the new public space completed.
COUNTY COURTS THREE BUILDING RENOVATION STUDY
Fauquier County, Virginia
OVERVIEW
BKV Group conducts Fauquier County courts renovation study.
TYPE
Government, Study
SIZE
95,000 - 116,780 SF
Under our term contract with Fauquier County, BKV Group was commissioned to per form a five building ten user-agency master plan study to determine the current and future projected needs of each user agency and the potential for expansion within existing buildings via an additions and renovations, or in a new courts complex.
Working within the theme of “Progress with Reverence for Heritage” and with a strong commitment to the accomplishment of meaningful improvements to the efficient, effective, and open conduct of the County government, and to the public health, safety, and welfare and educational opportunities, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors preserve the physical beauty, historical heritage and environmental quality of the county while ensuring that population growth and development is a positive force on the general welfare of the community. Budget / Cost: Option A - 90 million; Option B - 64 Million; Option C58 Million; Option D - 55 Million. Schedule: Study conducted during the COVID-19 Crisis from March 2020 - September 2020.
OLMSTED COUNTY ALTERNATIVE CRIMINAL COURTS
Rochester, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Olmsted County expands court facilities.
TYPE
Government, Courts Facility
SIZE
25,400 SF / 1 Courtroom
With pressing needs in their justice system, Olmsted County looked to accommodate space for growing court calendars despite the current COVID restrictions. Utilizing space in the Annex building across from the Government Center, existing unoccupied facilities were used to create a vital County expansion that can accommodate criminal court calendars.
With new courts, jury spaces, hearing areas, meeting rooms and public lobbies all designed to meet COVID boundaries the new court areas should serve the County well for the present and into the future.
PENNINGTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Pennington County seeks modernization solutions.
TYPE
Government, Law Enforcement, Courts, Detention, Justice, County Office
SIZE
3-story / 70,000 SF / 94-Bed / 2-Courtroom
Like many older courthouses, Pennington County’s was lacking in security, operational space and zone separation of public, staff and inmates. The jail was built in 1974 and as a linear design which created increased supervision requirements. To move inmates to court required taking inmates out of the jail across a main street and up to the courtroom through public hallways. This unsecured movement put staff and inmates at risk and created a possible liability for the County. Based on these items and jail noncompliance issues, the County Board decided to proceed with a new justice center at their current site with significant reuse of (renovated) existing spaces. To accomplish this the project was phased to allow the facility to remain operational and open to the public.
PINE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Pine City, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New justice center with modern facilities.
TYPE
Government, Courts, Detention, Justice
SIZE
3-story / 112,823 SF / 137-Bed Jail
BKV Group assisted Pine County in the implementation of a new 112,085 SF government center, including complete architectural, interior design, and electrical, structural and mechanical systems design from pre-design/master planning phase through construction. The facility consists of a new district courts including three new court suites, county administration, social services, county attorney, court services, a 137-bed direct supervision and flexible custody podular jail.
BKV’s design approach ensures safety and security by providing access/exiting options and vehicular restrictions maintaining a high degree of security while providing the ability to serve the public that is essential to government facility operations. The open ended design allows for expansion options at both ends of the building.
The three story building consists of a lower level law enforcement center with jail, main level offices for the county coordinator and human resources, court services, county recorder, auditor, assessor, treasurer, Social Services, Women and Children’s program (WIC) and the county board room, and an upper level with three courtrooms plus judges, courts administration and county attorney offices.
AITKIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER
Aitkin, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
County addresses spatial, security issues.
TYPE
Government Center, County Offices, Courts
SIZE
63,257 SF, 2-Courtroom
With a variety of spatial deficiencies in multiple County departments, poor circulation and wayfinding and significant security concerns which became acute when the County Sheriff was shot on his shift, Aitkin County looked for a solution that addressed all these concerns. The design solution utilized both remodel of existing courthouse spaces and the creation of a new addition that allowed public entry points to be consolidated and security and circulation concerns to be addressed. The new addition accommodates County Administration, the County Board, new public toilets, License Center, Veterans Services, Public Records Center, Court Administration and Building Security, while the existing Courthouse is remodeled to improve circulation, security and access to Courts. With sensitivity to the historic courthouse, the new design melds timeless and respectful materials with a contemporary design aesthetic for a cohesive public campus. The plan calls for moving many administrative and high traffic public interaction departments to a 3 level government center addition and remodeling the existing historic courthouse and courthouse annex to improve function and modernize the spaces.
STEARNS COUNTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND JUSTICE FACILITY MASTER PLAN STUDY
St. Cloud, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New justice facility
TYPE
Government, Justice Center
SIZE
473,000 SF
The new 473,000 square foot Stearns County Justice Complex consists of the Seventh District Judicial Court, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Stearns County Jail in a combined new facility as part of the existing Stearns County Government Center. The new facility joins the County Administration and Historic Courthouse around the courthouse square in downtown St. Cloud. As an alternative to the Downtown Site, the master plan also included a new facility concept of similar size and cost on a yet to be determined new location within the City of St. Cloud. The construction would be bid as a single multiphase contract with a site acquisition phase duration of 9 months, design phase duration of 12-months, and a construction phase duration of 6.25 years in five major phases. The Total Project Budget Estimate including hard construction cost, contingencies and soft costs is $244.66 MM. The Justice Complex Facility will be constructed to the 2040 master planning program and will house a 270 Bed Jail expandable to 350 beds; new Sheriff’s Office, Training Facility, and communications center; emergency management office; and a new 13 courtroom courthouse expandable to 14 courtrooms. The County Attorney’s Office and Community Corrections Office will remain in the County Administration Building and will be connected to the new facility via a secure private staff corridor link at the lower level and via a public corridor at the main level. The Public Defender’s Office will remain in their existing leased facility in the downtown.
WINONA COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Winona, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New justice facility
TYPE
Government, Courthouse
SIZE
37,000 SF
After the failure of the sprinkler system on the fourth floor, this grand building had sustained such extensive water damage that the resultant mold bloom made the interior environments uninhabitable. After gutting the structure and abating the contaminants, the county was faced with the choice of renovating the building or building a new facility. Fortunately the historic nature of the Courthouse, its fortress-like stone design, and its Richardson Romanesque aesthetic, motivated the community’s choice to save it.
The County Board of Commissioners wanted the newly renovated space to reflect the historic vintage of the exterior, while providing 21st-century environments for county government. The design solution provides new courtrooms and public spaces are keeping the period of the structure and convey elegant and stately courtroom environments. Great care was taken to embody the spirit of the buildings original design, while respecting the fiscal limits of the County. Original historical appointments were reintegrated where possible as well as new elements designed to compliment the old. The design also addresses the functional and security needs of the county government. Providing new office and public service spaces entailed integrating new technologies and services into the design solution.
