HANFORD, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2013) – Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) has begun its fourth capital project for California’s judicial branch. Representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and Sundt, along with nine judicial officers from the Superior Court of Kings County, commemorated the start of construction on the Kings County courthouse in Hanford with a groundbreaking ceremony in late September.
Located in Hanford’s civic center, the new Kings County courthouse will greatly improve access to justice by consolidating court services from several overcrowded and obsolete facilities that do not meet current security standards. The four-story, 144,460-square-foot facility will include 12 courtrooms, a jury assembly room, and an underground tunnel connecting to the nearby county jail for transportation of in-custody detainees.
In addition to accommodating criminal, civil, juvenile and family law cases, the new courthouse design incorporates the addition of several helpful features, including a self-help center and family court mediation rooms. Security also will be vastly improved with the incorporation of separate hallways and secure facilities for the public, court staff and in-custody detainees.
“As this new courthouse will process several different types of cases, we’ve worked closely with the AOC and architect DLR Group to carefully design a courthouse that is secure, and offers separation between court officials, inmates, visitors, victims and other members of the public conducting business,” said Cody Pearson of Sundt. “Privacy and security were top priorities to us as we planned the construction of this multi-use courthouse.”
The $86 million construction manager at risk (CMAR) project will also feature an energy-efficient “thermal mass” HVAC system that will make ice at night, when energy rates are lowest, and use the ice to cool the building during the day.
About Sundt
Sundt Construction, Inc. is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. Known nationally for its innovative approach to construction services, the firm is currently ranked the 64th largest construction company in the United States by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine. The company is also ranked 22nd on ENR‘s list of Top Contractors in California.