anchor Description
This project provides for the planning, design, and construction of a Montgomery County Judicial Center Annex, the Montgomery County Judicial Center HVAC renovation, and other needed renovations to Montgomery County Judicial Center. Associated requirements for items such as phasing, parking, and security are funded through this project. The existing Judicial Center has been renamed the Montgomery County Circuit Court.
anchorEstimated Schedule
Construction for the HVAC upgrades was completed in early The Judicial Center Annex was opened in April The remaining Judicial Center renovations, including first floor renovations and garage repairs, were completed in Circuit Court Chamber renovations were completed in
anchor Justification
There are currently Circuit Court Judges. The Judicial Center's courtrooms are all assigned. Four Circuit Court Judges are assigned to other courthouses. There are no remaining courtroom spaces available in the three courthouses leaving no room for new Circuit Court judicial positions. The October needs assessment completed by URS Corporation projected that to handle the projected number of court filings, judicial positions would be needed in in and in A projection was also made regarding the staff needed to support these positions in the Circuit Court, Clerk of the Court, Register of Wills, State's Attorney, and Sheriff's Offices. The following studies have been completed as a part of this project: Judicial Center Annex Project Report (URS/ Fentress - Courtroom Utilization Study (URS/Fentress - Planning Drawings for Phases and of a Judicial Center Annex (URS - The project has also been included in studies completed for the Rockville Core Plan. Courtrooms are designed to meet National Center for State Court standards.
anchorOther
The Executive Branch provided the Council's Public Safety Committee with a progress briefing on the revised Program of Requirements validation, design of the HVAC renovations, and design development of the Annex. The Judicial Center Annex will be constructed with ten new courtrooms, four of which replace the existing courtrooms in the Grey Courthouse and Red Brick Courthouse. This project was first included in the Capital Improvements Program in It was assumed that the Annex could be designed to meet long-term needs and then be built in two phases to reduce short-term costs. Later studies by the Department of Public Works and Transportation determined that two-phase construction of the Annex presents significant issues in terms of construction complexity and total project costs. Planning and design development for other County buildings in the Rockville Core as identified in the Government Core Facilities Optimization Master Plan Study are funded through the Montgomery County Government Complex project (PDF No. An architect was selected in
anchorFiscal Note
of General Obligation Bond funding was replaced with land sale proceeds in In in GO Bonds was transferred from Century Boulevard transfer of in GO Bonds to PSTA & Multi Agency Service Park - Site Development funding switch of from GO Bonds to Recordation Tax Premium.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.
The County Executive asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.
anchorCoordination
Circuit Court, Sheriff's Office, State Attorney's Office, Register of Wills, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Department of General Services, Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, County Council, Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, City of Rockville, Special Capital Projects Legislation [Bill No. adopted by Council, June