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New Courthouse Design Nears End

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By GEORGE WILKENS gwilkens@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

PLANT CITY - Construction of a new courthouse in Plant City could begin by July, the architect for the Hillsborough County project told Plant City commissioners at their Jan. 12 meeting.

Design of the 60,000-square-foot courthouse is nearing completion, and construction bids will be solicited next month, said Duncan Broyd, senior vice president of HOK, the Tampa architectural firm for the project.

Under that schedule, and allowing two years for construction, the courthouse could open in the summer of 2011, he said.

The two-story structure will be built on the grassy parking area across the street from the existing county complex, 302 N. Michigan Ave.

That building of about 40,000 square feet has portions dating to the 1950s. It will eventually be demolished and the site converted into a parking lot.

Commissioners have officially requested the courthouse exterior complement City Hall and other brick buildings downtown.

Broyd said the exact shade of red brick has yet to be selected, but the bricks will be of varying textures to add visual interest, with strawberry flower medallions on those bricks at eye level. That strawberry flower theme could also be incorporated in the rotunda flooring, he said.

Finding a source of suitable brick within 500 miles of Plant City will help keep transportation costs reasonable, Broyd said.

Bill Hand, project manager of the county's real estate department, said activity at the building site may begin sooner than the anticipated July groundbreaking.

"There is some environmental work on the property we need to get done," Hand told commissioners.

Responding to commissioners' desire that the new building be named the Plant City Courthouse, Hand replied, "We really haven't come up with a name yet," as the issue has not been addressed and is ultimately a decision of the county commission, he said.

In February, city commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Plant City Courthouse name be retained and that the building feature red brick and other architectural elements common throughout the historical downtown district.

Among other things, the new building will have four courtrooms for misdemeanor or felony trials, Hand said. Felony trials cannot be held at the existing building, which lacks holding facilities, he said.

As for estimated cost, "We're trying to keep the building at $15.5" million, said Nancy Yanez, deputy court administrator. Money already spent for the land ($2.5 million), plus expenses for environmental issues and a contingency fund will create a total project price estimated at $21.4 million, she said.

Current economic conditions, especially in the building trade area, may help keep costs down. "We're definitely more optimistic than what we were a year ago," Yanez said.

Likewise, she said she expects a fairly large number of companies to submit construction bids.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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