June 21, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
COLUMBIA – On Monday, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will break ground on the new Howard County Circuit Courthouse. The 238,000 square foot facility will be completed through a public-private partnership, the first for Howard County. The existing Courthouse was built 175 years ago and has numerous safety challenges that impact access to justice. Simultaneous commercial and financial close for the project was achieved in October 2018 and the new Courthouse is scheduled to be completed in July 2021. Read more about the Howard County Circuit Courthouse here. Watch conceptual animation of the project here.
“Our new Courthouse will enhance public safety and security, while also improving sustainability,” said Ball. “The current Courthouse is almost two centuries old and is simply not equipped to handle our population, increased caseloads, technology needs, and maximize victim safety. As we break ground on the largest capital project in the history of our county, we are ushering in a new era of safety, innovation, and justice in Howard County.”
The new Courthouse design features a four-story atrium, a large entryway that will provide safety screening for those entering the Courthouse and separate hallways and elevators for prisoners. The Courthouse will also include office space for the Howard County State’s Attorney, Howard County Sheriff, Howard County Bar Association, Maryland Public Defender, Clerk of the Court and Register of Wills, among others, a courtroom for a sixth judge, a larger and safer jury assembly area, and a 682-space parking garage adjacent to the building.
WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony on new Howard County Circuit Courthouse
WHEN: Monday, June 24th at 11:30 AM
WHERE: 9250 Bendix Road, Columbia, MD 21045
WHO: Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive
Richard Gibson, State’s Attorney
Marcus Harris, Howard County Sheriff
Opel Jones, Howard County Council Vice Chair
Lenore Gelfman, Past Administrative Judge
William Tucker, Administrative Judge
Brian Dugan, CEO of Edgemoor-Star America
Mike Hartman, Division President at Clark Construction Group
Larry Kraemer Chief Operating Officer of Harkins Builders
Other former and current elected officials