Voting opens to select design of new Douglas County Justice Center

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Over $50 million has been approved to build a new Justice Center in Douglas County. In 1980, with a population of 19,400, the County relocated several County Departments to a newly constructed two-story Justice & Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) located at 1038 Buckeye Road in Minden.

Now, 40 years later and with a population of almost 50,000, the services provided in the building exceed the design capacity of the space, and a new building has been approved, also to be located on Buckeye Road.

The new center is not without controversy due to the rising costs to build it. County officials say the new JLEC won't be paid for with any new taxes, but will be paid for with bonds. There are two pieces to the proposed Justice Center Financing – General Obligation (Revenue Backed) Bonds up to $37M, and Medium Term Obligation Bonds up to $14M, for a maximum total debt issuance of up to $51M. The bonds are expected to be repaid from existing funds of Douglas County, including the Ad Valorem Capital Projects Fund previously used to repay the Community and Senior Center bonds which were recently paid off.

"This state-of-the-art facility will cater to the future needs of the Douglas County Courts and the District Attorney, symbolizing justice for generations," states the project website.

Now, the County has opened voting to get the public's opinion on three different designs of the JLEC to present to the Board of Commissioners. Voting is open from June 1-21, 2024.

County Manager Jenifer Davidson said, “The current Judicial Law Enforcement Building (JLEC), built in 1980, has served us for 44 years. The new center will be built not just for today's community, but for future generations. We invite the public to review each design and help us create an exterior that reflects the unique culture and heritage of Douglas County. Your input is vital and will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners.”

To learn more about the design options and to cast your vote, click here.

The county has partnered with TSK Architects to create the three design options, each honoring the judicial system's grandeur and history while promoting safety, fairness, and equity. TSK Architects, known for their award-winning Justice Center and Courthouse projects in Nevada and California, have also designed the 2015 Lander County Courthouse and the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in 2018.

Design Options for Public Voting:

The community is invited to vote for one of three exterior design options for the new Justice Center. Each design embodies a different architectural design approach:

Design #1

Locally Referenced exterior Design: This design draws inspiration from the Western Classical Revival style of the historic Frederick J. DeLongchamps' 1915 Douglas County Courthouse. It aims to emulate the visual language and character that DeLongchamps' buildings brought to the town of Minden, extending this historical language into the future. Along with the Historic Courthouse design, local inspirations for the design materials included references from the Minden Inn, Bently Farmers Bank Building, and the Minden Mercantile.

Design #2

Neo-Classical exterior Design: This design references the American historical view of courthouses, employing classical design principles to evoke the idea of courthouses as temples of justice. Local inspirations for the design included refences to the Nevada Court of Appeals. Design elements include glass fiber reinforced gypsum columns and a foam cornice.

Design #3

Modern Interpretation Exterior Design: This design offers a modern adaptation of historical courthouse architecture, retaining the general visual image of classical architecture while embracing modernism’s sleek, clean lines and eliminating purely decorative ornamentation. Local inspirations for this design included references to the Nevada Supreme Court. Design elements include a pointed entry, and plaster fascia.

Also, each of the exterior design options feature visual references to the iconic historic courthouse steps; physically separated from the building but functionally incorporated into the design as a public seating area.

The construction of the new Justice Center is expected to begin in Spring 2025, with an estimated completion date of summer 2026.

For more information on the Justice Center click here to view the full project page.