Routt County Justice Center

Heery worked with Routt County to design a three-story, 50,800 SF justice center that embraced the natural beauty of Steamboat Springs.  The lofty two-story lobby welcomes visitors with abundant natural light from a beautiful daylight lantern overhead and tall expanses of glass provide stunning views of Mt. Werner and the Steamboat ski area. Other exciting features include the grand architectural stair prominently displayed and conveniently located to promote foot traffic to the garden and second floors, the 150 rooftop solar panels anticipated to produce over 37,000 watts of electricity annually, and the “secure” 200-foot underground tunnel used to transport inmates to and from the adjacent county jail.

The building includes program space for four finished courtrooms on the first and second floors, while a jury assembly-meeting room initially built out in the shell space provides for the future fourth all-purpose courtroom on the first floor. The center also includes judges’ chambers and jury rooms, alternative dispute resolution rooms, offices for the Clerk of Courts, district attorney and probation departments, and central detention holding. The basement includes approximately 6,000 SF of unfinished shell space for future expansion. 

With a set grand opening date of September 12, 2007, teams had to race to complete construction and finishing touches within 19 months of construction.