by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Mock ups help tweak courtrooms
Substantial completion of the Duval County Courthouse isn’t expected until 2012, but that doesn’t mean people who will be utilizing the courthouse can’t have a look inside.
Turner Construction and KBJ architects have created “mock ups,” or models, of the different courtrooms that will be built in the new Duval County Courthouse inside the former federal courthouse. The rooms were built of plywood and provide “sight-line models” so judges, lawyers and court support staff can get an idea of what they will be working in and offer suggestions for improvements.
“Testing has been going on for about 6-8 weeks,” said David Schneider, senior project manager for the City of Jacksonville. “We’ve had judges, clerks, bailiffs and court reporters come in to let us know what needs to be changed to make the rooms as functional as possible.”
Folding tables were used to show where the plaintiff and defendant tables would sit in the courtroom and they were among the few pieces of furniture not constructed by Turner. The judge’s bench, clerk’s desk, witness stand, court reporter’s desk and jury boxes gleaned of new plywood. Three different models illustrated the different courtrooms that would be built in the new courthouse. The largest, C-1, is about 2,400 square feet and includes two jury boxes, which could be used for murder trials or condemnation hearings. It will also be the ceremonial courtroom that will host investitures and retirements. The middle model was C-2 and it will occupy about 1,800 square feet and serve circuit court. County Court will be served by model C-3, which is about 1,650 square feet and contains a jury box for eight people. The new courthouse will hold 51 courtrooms.
“It’s been a great process with a lot of input from the people who will be working in those courtrooms,” said Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper, a representative of the Fourth Circuit on the Courthouse Architectural Review Committee. “The mock ups have been a great tool to let us see what we will be working with and how we can make things better.”
The practice of constructing the “sight-line” models is a service that Turner provides on projects similar in size to the courthouse and another round will take place once the courthouse nears completion.
“The next sight-line mock ups will help us to verify the design with the users,” said Margaret Simone, senior project manager with Turner Construction. “It will help with the finishing touches.”
Members of the Jacksonville Bar Association will be visiting the mock ups tomorrow.
356-2466