Courthouse Master Plan

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners is considering options for expanding the Cabarrus County Courthouse, which was built in 1973. While courthouse operations and staffing are funded by the State of North Carolina, the County is responsible for providing an adequate courthouse facility. So, any maintenance, renovation or new construction of courthouse facilities must be funded by Cabarrus County.

The process to develop a Courthouse Master Plan began in 2007 with creation of a committee to study current and future courthouse needs and to select a firm to develop the master plan. Moseley Architects was selected in 2008 to develop the plan. This firm worked with courthouse staff and other courthouse users for seven months to determine needs.

This first phase of the Master Plan project is the programming phase. During this phase, consultants worked directly with users of the courthouse to determine internal needs related to job functions and projections for future growth. If the Board of Commissioners decides to proceed with any expansion options, then phase two will begin. Phase Two will include multiple opportunities for community input from citizens as well as business and municipal stakeholders.

At its July 7, 2009 work session, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation by Moseley Architects detailing the findings of their independent study as well as recommendations from the Courthouse Master Plan Advisory Committee.

Among the findings, Moseley Architects reports that:

• Current space deficiencies require an additional 56,303 square feet to meet current needs.
• Most of the functional and support areas (such as record storage and Clerk of Court office) are inadequate with no room to expand further.
• There are security deficiencies with judges and inmates using the same corridor.
• There are no areas for attorney and client meetings.
• The Magistrates Office moved to the new Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office building. This vacant space will be renovated for future district court use as a sixth court room. (Approved by Board of Commissioners at July 20, 2009 meeting.)
• Currently, four judges serve full–time at the Cabarrus County Courthouse. Court officials are hopeful that the State will appoint a fifth judge by 2015.
• Court officials anticipate a total of eight judges by 2030.

Moseley Architects provided three options for consideration by the Board of Commissioners:

Option 1: Renovation
Cost: $2.5 million

Main features:

• In–fill the outdoor colonnade to reduce loitering out front
• Set up a more efficient security screening area
• Create sound–block area with vestibule between courtroom doors and public area
• Use vestibule space for attorney/client conference areas
• Relocate IT function area to basement to give District Attorney’s office more space; provide workroom
• Plan would solve space deficiency for three years

Option 2: Construct Additional Wing
Cost: $43.8 million

Main Features:

• Build a shell building attached to the courthouse with two finished floors to meet needs until 2015 and continue to operate existing courthouse
• Finished wing would add 77,000 square feet plus secure, basement parking for judges
• The new wing would house: Clerk of Court, new public screening and security area, public lobby, district attorney office, superior court judges’ offices, 2 courtrooms, shared spaces and conference room
• Space vacated from current courthouse would be reallocated for 2 new courtrooms

Option 3: Construct Replacement Courthouse
Cost: $51.6 million

Main Features:

• This is a long–term plan that would meet space needs for 2015 and create a shell space to plan for 2030 needs
• Demolish courthouse and create courtyard/urban park with amphitheater
• Plan would highlight the features of the Historic Cabarrus County Courthouse
• Design would take 12 months before construction could begin
• Courthouse Master Plan advisory committee recommends this option because it meets current and projected year 2015 space requirements, has optimal security and functional efficiency, meets requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, abides by fire and building codes, and is the least disruptive option for carrying on current operations.