Long-Awaited Courthouse Expansion Approved

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- A courthouse expansion seven years in the making has been approved in Gwinnett County.

The $75 million expansion, which will bring an addition to the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and a new parking deck there, was approved Tuesday by Gwinnett County commissioners.

The bulk of the money for the project will come from the special purpose local-option sales tax approved by county voters in 2009.

"As our population approaches 1 million people, demand on the Gwinnett County court system continues to grow," commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said in a written statement. "Additional courtrooms and associated facilities are needed to serve jurors, victims, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, witnesses and others who visit the courts. I am thankful to all of the voters who recognized the need for additional court facilities and approved SPLOST to fund the expansion."

The contract for the work was awarded to Gilbane Building Company.

It calls for a 180,485 square-foot addition and a 1,500-space parking garage at the justice center.

The addition will be four stories high, with a lower level, and be placed on current parking space.

In 2010, commissioners turned down nine proposals to do the expansion, saying that tight budgets at the time made it poor timing to shell out the cash.

The expansion will focus largely on court-related needs, including judges' chambers, holding cells and jury deliberation rooms.

"On behalf of the judiciary, we are excited and grateful that this project is finally underway," chief Superior Court Judge Melodie Snell Conner said in a news release.

"Over the last several years, the Court system and related agencies have completely outgrown the current courthouse. This much needed and anticipated expansion will greatly enable us to better serve the citizens of Gwinnett and insure that all litigation in the Gwinnett Courts is handled as expeditiously and safely as possible."

Commissioners had been prepared to vote on the expansion two weeks ago, when Commissioner John Heard asked for more information on how Gilbane was awarded the contract.

(Image courtesy of Gwinnett County)