February 4, 2019
Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
Thomas Meunier, Assistant to the Director, Department of Public Works, 410-313-6160 =
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a community outreach meeting on Thursday, February 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at Howard High School, located at 8700 Old Annapolis Road in Ellicott City, to share plans for the new Howard County Circuit Courthouse project.
“As we work to improve access to justice for all and provide enhanced safety and security, we want to ensure that we reach out, include our community, and move forward with complete transparency and openness,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “The new Circuit Courthouse is the largest capital project in the history of our county and with its innovative public-private partnership approach, it is already drawing national attention.”
County employees and representatives from Edgemoor-Star America Judicial Partners will be on hand to discuss this County capital project and gather public comment. Stations will be set up throughout the room to facilitate informal discussions on various aspects of the design, plans and project management.
Howard County awarded a contract on October 16, 2018 to Edgemoor-Star America Judicial Partners to lead the design, construction, partial financing and facility operation and maintenance of the new Circuit Courthouse and parking structure. The new Circuit Courthouse will be built on the site of the County’s Thomas B. Dorsey Building, located at 9250 Bendix Road in Columbia. The contract was awarded using a competitive procurement process.
The design submitted by Edgemoor-Star America Judicial Partners includes a 238,000 square feet courthouse and an adjacent 682-space parking garage. The plan also includes road improvements at the intersections of Bendix and Edgar Roads and Bendix Road and Judicial Way.
Demolition of the Thomas B. Dorsey Building will begin this June, with site work expected to commence two months later. The Courthouse is expected to open in the summer of 2021.
For preliminary renderings and a conceptual computer animation of the Edgemoor Star-America Judicial Partners proposal, and for information on the Howard County Circuit Courthouse Project, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/howardcourthouse.
Those unable to attend the meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions about the project, should contact Thomas Meunier, Assistant to the Director with DPW at 410-313-6160 or email tmeunier@howardcountymd.gov.
An interpreter for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be available if requested seven working days prior to the meeting. Please call DPW at 410-313-3440 (voice) or use Relay at 7-1-1, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For questions or more information about Capital Project C-0290, contact Lisa Brightwell, Public Works Customer Service, at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.