SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Snohomish County officials will break ground on the controversial new courthouse this summer. The new design plans were released Wednesday, with word that a parking problem at the new building is solved.
Doug Kleppin — architect with Orlando-based Heery International -- didn't talk about parking problems or about the half-dozen buildings that will be demolished to make room for the more than $160 million courthouse. Instead, he unveiled what he says will be an on-time, so far on-budget project and focused on its strengths -- from daylight in every courtroom to security.
"We have separate circulations for judicial and staff, for the inmates as well as the public so they have independent entries, independent vertical elevator systems,” he explained to a crowd of at least 50 who came to see the design.
The building almost didn't happen. Last December, the Everett City Council said in order for it to approve the plans, the county would need to add hundreds of parking spots. This spring, the city and county compromised; the county agreed to rent spaces from a future city garage.
"I'd like to see a modern project that uses all the energy savings,” said Bob Goski, an Everett resident who came to the presentation less concerned about the parking than about preserving the city's past.
"I don't know if that's possible with the size of that courthouse,” he said of the buildings on Rockefeller Avenue, where the new courthouse will be. That’s across the street from the current facility.
The eight-story, 250,000-square-foot building will look similar to its surroundings, but Bob is right -- nothing on Rockefeller will be saved. Kleppin told us neither issue has stalled the project--.
"We're pretty much right on schedule, we delivered our design package on schedule May 22,” concluded Kleppin.
There's no official groundbreaking date but the architect tells us it will be over the summer. He's designed at least 50 courthouses around the country but this will be his first in Puget Sound. The old, 1960s-built facility will eventually be torn down to make room for a plaza.
KIRO
