Construction of the new Franklin County courts building has reached a significant milestone. On Friday, December 19th the final piece of the steel framework was raised into position.

The Commissioners and project team marked the occasion with a 'Topping Out' ceremony at the site, located at the corner of Mound and High streets just north of the current county courts facility. The Commissioners also recognized the building as the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Courthouse.

As part of the ceremony, county officials, representatives of the project team and the construction crew signed a banner affixed to the final piece of steel. The beam was decorated with an American flag and a small evergreen tree.

Topping out celebrations are a long-standing construction tradition, held when the uppermost steel beam or roof framing is raised into place to acknowledge that the structure has reached its highest point. The evergreen represents the life and growth of the new building.

Construction on the exterior building envelope will begin in January; the project is scheduled for a fall 2010 completion.

New Courts Building Construction Underway

Click to view the New Courts Building webcam

New Renderings of the New Courts Building

Downtown Complex Master Plan Completed

A Franklin County Government Center Facilities Master Plan was completed and released on August 16, 2007.

The document provides the county with a strategic plan to guide the county’s downtown campus facility usage over the next 25-50 years. The plan is designed to be dynamic, flexible and adaptable to future changes in demographics and other factors that may affect county operations.

Key components of the master plan include improved signage, accessibility, and wayfinding to assist residents in making their way around the campus and the improved connectivity of existing campus buildings with the soon-to-be-built county courts building.

The master plan was completed by Schooley Caldwell Associates, Pizzuti Solutions, Myers Schmalenberger (MSI), T&M Protection Resources, and Hardlines Design Company in conjunction with Miles McClellan.

Click here to read the Master Plan

Franklin County Breaks Ground on New Courthouse

FRANKLIN COUNTY MAKES HISTORY

Commemorating 120 Years After the Dedication

of the Courthouse in 1887

Franklin County Commissioners, state, county and city elected officials, community leaders, and courthouse building project partners joined together to break ground on Franklin County’s new sustainable courthouse during a ceremony at the lots on Mound and High Streets, just north of the current county complex.

Commissioners noted that the July 3, 2007 groundbreaking date is historically significant because after the original county courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1879, the cornerstone for a second courthouse was laid over 100 years ago, on July 3, 1887.

The new Courthouse will lead by example, utilizing high-performing, sustainable building materials that will save the county significant energy costs and minimize various forms of pollution. It will provide a healthy, productive and respectful work setting for employees, and for jurors whose civic service is a keystone to our judicial and democratic process.

Click to view a slideshow of New Courthouse renderings