Franklin County
Project Overview
Heapy designed the Mechanical-Electrical systems for the new $105 million standalone building, primarily housing the Franklin County Common Pleas courts and directly related functions, including the Clerk of Courts, satellite offices for the Prosecutor and Public Defender, a sallyport and central holding facility for detainees, and controlled access parking for judges and elected officials.
The new 300,000 SF seven story Courthouse holds 32 courtrooms, two special proceedings courtrooms and is designed and constructed to allow for horizontal expansion on its 3.8-acre site. The building area and volume have been sized to reduce the amount of heating and cooling required. The building is 25% more energy efficient and will save a million gallons of water each year compared to a comparable new code compliant building.
The Courthouse also features a green roof to help reduce storm water runoff into the river and reduces urban temperature and performs air cleaning. The use of efficient building features will pay back in nine years or less.
Achieving LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council allows the County to track, measure, and publicly demonstrate the value of green building design.
Thought Content
Planning for the New Normal
Plumbing Systems Re-Occupancy and Ongoing Operations
Your building may have been shut down these past many months due to WFH/COVID. Minimal use of your building’s water systems creates stagnant water in your plumbing system piping and equipment, which promotes the growth of Legionella and/or other biofilm-associated bacteria. This places your building occupants at risk when re-occupancy occurs. Now is the time to develop and implement a safe and effective Water Management Plan to protect your building occupants, maximizing their health and safety upon re-occupancy.