MMM designed a new 58,000 SF, two-story court building for the City of Chesapeake. The building design and selection of materials were made to the dictates of the new City Hall complex, located on the same site and part of a major master planning of courts and administrative offices.

The facility contains the following services and departments: four courtrooms, ten prisoner holding cells, a sallyport, private prisoner circulation, court clerk’s office, probation offices, intake offices, court psychiatrist/family counseling areas, sheriff’s office and police office, witness waiting rooms, registrar and volunteer services areas.

> At the second level, a central space includes a glass atrium and precast concrete element to provide an indoor/outdoor openness.

> A judge-directed critical court records archival system that uses treated water and decentralized steam humidification systems in individual storage archives.

> A sophisticated communications system links the courthouse directly to various remote detention facilities; the first of its kind for a court building in Virginia. Audio visual equipment is utilized in each courtroom to document court activities.

> A new central heating and cooling plant was designed, which serves the new J&DR Courts and the existing Circuit Court Building. New underground chilled and heating water piping systems were provided to serve the two buildings from a central plant.