Timeline
1992
County government discussions regarding condition of court buildings in city of Goshen and city of Elkhart take place. Talk of consolidating (merging) the two separate facilities into one facility take place. No resolution.
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2003/2004
County government discussion regarding the condition of court buildings in city of Goshen and city of Elkhart once again take place. Talk of improving efficiencies by consolidating (merging) the two separate courts into one facility are once again taking place. No resolution.
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2006
Again County government discussion regarding the condition of court buildings in city of Goshen and city of Elkhart once again take place. Talk of improving efficiencies by consolidating (merging) the two separate courts into one facility are once again taking place. No resolution.
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January, 2018
County government discussions regarding the condition of court buildings in the city of Goshen and the city of Elkhart take place again. Public discussions begin in earnest this time with a determination to bring each facility up to physical standards, including ADA compliance – local officials throughout the county are consulted.
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July, 2019
Consultants hired to analyze facilities. Consultants interview Judges, staff, local attorneys, security/police to identify what is needed to enhance security, improve physical conditions, provide for parking and future growth, facilitate court efficiencies and bring building up to ADA standards.
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August 2019 - November 2020
Over two dozen potential sites for a consolidated courts facility are evaluated.
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January, 2020
Consultants recommend merging two separate court facilities into one facility so as to improve efficiencies, safety, court accessibility for county residents, provide adequate space for future growth and lower annual operating costs significantly. (See document Professional Analysis)
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October 21, 2020
Request for Quotes (RFQ) published.
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October, 2020
Bond bids received (interest rate of 2.63% on a bond for $35M procured).
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November 14, 2020
County Council approves 32 acre land purchase at 1905 Reliance Road, Goshen.
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December 9/10, 2020
The Technical Review Committee (TRC) interviewed eight Design/Build teams from the region. The committee will now narrow the list down to 3-4 potential design/build teams for final consideration.
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December 15, 2020
TRC narrows Design/Build teams down to three who will be invited to a second interview in January 2021.
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January 12, 2021
TRC interviewed three finalists for the project and assigned 16 Qualitative Scores to each design/build team. The TRC’s Qualitative Scores were submitted to the County Commissioners on the same day, and the Commissioners approved the submission unanimously at that time.
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January 19, 2021
County Commissioners vote unanimously to begin the design/build process.
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January 26, 2021
County Commissioners host first Visioning Session with court personnel and county official to discuss shared values and goals for the design of the new consolidated courts facility.
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February 2021
Visioning Sessions held with County Courts personnel, Design/Build Team and County Government
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March 2021
- Visioning Sessions held with County Courts Personnel, Design/Build Team and County Government
- Design/Build Team develops Conceptual Design Options from Visioning Sessions
- JPR delivers initial draft of Traffic Information Study
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May 2021
- A Preferred Design Option Concept for the Consolidated Courts Campus is chosen
- Site plan (laying out the campus) chosen and adopted
- Dozens of visioning, engineering/construction and finance meetings take place with county leaders, including courts and law enforcement officials (February 2021 - May 2021)
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June 2021
A site plan for the consolidated courts project was accepted. The plan is designed to maximize use of the 32-acre site. The final plan features parking lots on the northeast section of property. The main court building will fit into the southeast corner with the front facing northwest
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August 2021
The Design/Build Team part 1 of the GMP Documents
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September 28, 2021
Elkhart County Council members expressed unanimous support for continuing the work of the Elkhart Consolidated Courts project. The expression of support occurred in a Phase 1 wrap-up presentation to the assembled Elkhart County Judiciary, County Commissioners and Council Members.
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November 16, 2021
Groundbreaking at site of new Consolidated Courts Campus on Reliance Road in Goshen.
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December 9-11, 2021
Judges walk through full scale courtroom mockups and recommend appropriate room modifications.
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December 14, 2021
Judges make final recommendations regarding the design and construction of the new courtrooms to be built at the new consolidated courts campus on Reliance Road in Goshen. In this meeting, Judges and other courts personnel make decisions on style of brick façade and other design details, including the elimination of a proposed patio area at the southeast corner. The patio area was eliminated out of concerns regarding access in and out of the building in that area.
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April, May and June 2022
Surface design, including water management work began at the site on Reliance Road.
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June and July 2022
Initial concrete pours began for elevator shafts that will serve the 4-story courthouse.
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August 2022
A high-tech camera was installed so the public could witness construction at the site 24 hours a day.
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April 2023
The last beam of Elkhart County's new Consolidated Courts Campus was set and signed by all the County Judges.