NCJ Number
39680
Date Published
1974
Length
101 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP OPTIMUM SPACE USE SOLUTIONS TO THE REORGANIZATION AND RENOVATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES IN UNION COUNTY, AND TO THE DESIGN CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COURTHOUSE IN RICHLAND COUNTY.
Abstract
UNION COUNTY HAS A POPULATION OF 31,300 PERSONS WITH 11,000 PERSONS RESIDING WITHIN THE 4.42 SQUARE MILE AREA OF UNION CITY. NO DEMOGRAPHIC DATA IS GIVEN FOR RICHLAND COUNTY IN THIS FEBRAURY 1974 REPORT. INTERFERING PATTERNS OF CIRCULATION AMONG THE VARIOUS GROUPS UTILIZING THE COURT-RELATED FACILITIES (JUDGES, JURIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PRISONERS, THE PUBLIC) WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE OF MOST OF THE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY THE UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE. ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT MANY SPACES WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE WERE EITHER UNDERUTILIZED OR MISUSED. USE OF THIS SPACE IS SUMMARIZED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OUTLINED WHICH INVOLVE THE RELOCATION AND REORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE TO MEET IMMEDIATE, SHORT-TERM SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS. MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE SPACE PROPOSAL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO ELEVATORS (ONE FOR PRISONERS), EXCAVATION OF THE GROUND FLOOR TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SPACE FOR PRISONER MOVEMENT AND SEPARATE PRISONER CIRCULATION, AND RELOCATION OF OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS WHOSE FUNCTIONS BEAR NO RELATION TO THE COURT OR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AFTER A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE PLANS DEVELOPED BY A LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FOR THE PROPOSED RICHLAND COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, COMMENTS WERE DRAFTED ON BOTH THE GENERAL PLANNING APPROACH AND SPECIFIC PLANNING ELEMENTS. ELEVEN PROBLEMS ARE IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT AND ARE EACH ACCOMPANIED BY A DETAILED PROPOSAL FOR SOLVING IT. SPACE MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO THE PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING OF JUDICIAL FACILITIES IN UNION AND RICHLAND COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE REPORT....ELW