The new 17,000 sq. ft. facility will house a Courthouse and a Sheriff’s Department. Key Court spaces include a large courtroom, two hearing rooms, jury deliberation room, judges’ chambers, clerk’s office, and records room. The Sheriff’s Department space comprises a sally port, holding cells, and administrative offices. The site design provides security, access control, and perimeter surveillance capabilities while providing for efficient and effective access and circulation.
The selection of materials (black concrete block, exposed steel and polished concrete floors) and the use of native grasses in the landscaping reflect the history of the development of Raton and the region. The primary industries in Colfax were coal mining and ranching, both are important aspects expressed in the architecture and landscaping, while the two main architectural forms differentiate between the primary functions.
Recipient of a 2009 AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice Award, it will appear in the (AAJ) Justice Facility Review 2009.
