Justice & Gvmt

Raleigh County Judicial Center

Scope

New Construction

Location

Beckley, WV

size

70,000 gsf

awards

Merit Award - AIA West Virginia

The new Raleigh County Judicial Center is located on a tight urban infill site at the main intersection in the center of uptown Beckley, West Virginia. The new 70,000 square foot judicial center features three state of the art circuit courtrooms, a future fourth circuit courtroom, two magistrate courtrooms, a third future magistrate courtroom, and two family courtrooms. A secure vehicular sally port is accessed from the lower level located along north side of the building. A central holding component allows for detainees to be safely and securely transported into the facility, then vertically via secure elevators with direct access to the courtrooms.

 

The design of the Judicial Center responds to the urban context addressing the intersection with a clock tower/vertical circulation component on axis with the pedestrian walk and courthouse green space. The long west elevation features a colonnade relating to a similar feature in the Federal Courthouse and allows site-lines for pedestrians and vehicular traffic to the historic county courthouse to be expanded upon arrival to the city center.