King County Children and Family Justice Center

Seattle, Washington

4 LEED Gold

SIZE

347,000 sq. ft., 140 beds

10 juvenile/family courts

Four level parking garage

COST

$210 Million

COMPLETION DATE

Estimated 2023

SERVICES

Architecture, Interiors, Master Planning, Detention and Courts Programming, Medical Planning

The Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center provides an efficient, safe and flexible facility to support juvenile and family court, juvenile detention and youth and family services. The Center realizes King County’s commitment to reduce the proportion of minority youth in the juvenile justice system and meet the demands of a growing population for the next 50 years.

Located in one of Seattle’s many changing downtown urban neighborhoods, the Center consolidates the operations of disparate and existing facilities, fully integrating judicial, legal and social services into a single complex. This new facility includes a 140-bed juvenile hall, ten juvenile/family courtrooms and a four-level parking garage with capacity for 360 stalls.

The County envisioned a design that would respect its community context, providing a safe and welcoming environment that preserves open space and enhances connectivity of the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Center’s massing and forms reflect as sense of order and purpose and achieve a human scale.

The exterior features a unified palette of brick and glass that creates a visually distinct character while responding to functional requirements.

Landscaped areas and a pedestrian pathway reconnect East Alder Street between 12th and 14th avenues reconnecting two neighborhoods for the first time in 50 years.

All major Courthouse program elements including all public amenities, courtrooms, and circulation are organized around a secure courtyard and rain garden for simple and clear way finding. Daylight fills public waiting areas on all levels and the courtyard’s rain garden provides a naturally calming focal point for all.

At the same time, a diverse set of functions make up the detention section of the facility, including housing, programs, and support functions—all in close relationships with varying public and courts related operations.

The Center embraces principles of trauma sensitive design, creating an affirmative, low-risk low-stress environment for staff, at-risk youth and their families during all aspects and phases of case disposition.

Public areas adopt a residential look and feel with acoustic comfort, natural light and views to nature contributing to the low-stress environment. Waiting areas were specifically designed to reduce tension and the possibility of conflict through seating arrangements, lighting patterns, materials, colors and finishes.

Overall, the Center creates a positive, caring, and transformative environment for the users, serves as a positive focal point for the community, and embraces environmental stewardship.