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Twenty-two floors down, well, up really, and two to go. Well, technically, three to go on the new courthouse building. They’re including a 25th floor that can accommodate four additional courtrooms in the future.
Completion of the new Miami-Dade County Courthouse, tentatively, is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2024, according to Alex A. Alfonso, assistant director of the Miami-Dade Internal Services Department.
The exact project completion date continues to be negotiated, Mr. Alfonso said, “and has not been finalized.” And questions remain about how the finished building will look.
The 22nd floor was in place as of Feb. 27 and workers began framework preparations for the 23rd floor.
The anticipated price is $262,767,000, Mr. Alfonso said.
The cost includes a $18.5 million contract that county commissioners in July awarded to Johnson Controls Inc. to provide telecommunication and audio-visual work for the new building, currently being developed by Plenary Justice LLC right next to the old courthouse on Flagler Street in downtown Miami.
Net proceeds from the anticipated sale of the historic courthouse are to be used to help fund the new courthouse, Mr. Alfonso said.
After the shell is completed the roofing work will begin, according to Juan Silva, Miami-Dade director of facilities and infrastructure.
Already underway on the lower floors, Mr. Silva told Miami Today, is the installation of exterior masonry walls, windows, interior partitions, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems.
Work also continues on the elevators, Mr. Silva said, and an emergency generator. There will be two “penthouses” above the 25th floor to house mechanical systems such as the elevator equipment.
Additionally, the Miami-Dade’s Cultural Affairs Department has concluded its artists selection process for the county’s Art in Public Places program, Mr. Silva added, and is in the process of coordinating each artist’s proposal for presentations to a selection committee.
The finished 25-story, 474-foot-tall courthouse will have 620,000 square feet with 46 courtrooms and shell space for an additional four. Parking is planned for 59 vehicles and offices for court administrative and clerk personnel.
The building is designed by HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm.
HOK was founded in St. Louis in 1955 by architect George Hellmuth, who recruited partners Gyo Obata and George Kassabaum.
Curiously, an entry on the website (HOK.com) states: “Likely due to minimizing construction costs, Miami-Dade County is permitting the project to proceed overriding several regulations.
“The parking garage will not require screening, and only 11% of the site will be open space, whereas the requirement is typically 15%.
“A building’s façade normally requires 40% glazing, but in this case, it will be at 27%.
“The proposed development can have blank walls facing the public without any artistic expressions such as mosaics or murals, and 0 site trees will be planted, whereas the required amount is 30.”
Miami Today contacted HOK for an explanation and was told those questions should be directed to the county.
The paper then queried several county officials. including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, about the design exceptions.
Only Mr. Alfonso responded to emails, explaining, as late as Tuesday morning, “I am still awaiting an update.”
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/03/07/county-courthouse-nears-apex-but-completion-date-elusive/
