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Consultants present midstudy findings for Fauquier master facilities plan; judicial services could need 76% more space
Summary
Dewberry & Associates presented a midterm update on the countys master facilities plan, reporting judicial functions now occupy ~34,000 sq ft but may need ~59,000 sq ft over a 10-year horizon. The firm recommended further facility-condition assessments and alternative siting and phasing studies for a new judicial center in Warrenton.
Dewberry & Associates presented a midstudy update of Fauquier Countys 10-year master facilities plan at the July 10 work session, focusing on judicial space needs and a facilities condition assessment of county-owned buildings.
The consultant team said it reviewed 23 county facilities and grouped them by function to assess whether to renovate, reuse, sell or replace buildings. For judicial functions — including circuit court, general district court, juvenile and domestic relations court, magistrate operations and related support such as evidence storage and sheriffs administrative space — the study shows existing space of roughly 34,000 square feet and an estimated 10-year need of about 59,000 square feet, a 76% increase.
Consultants identified recurring operational problems that a consolidated facility would address: undersized courtrooms (some about half the recommended size), overlapping circulation paths that mix public, judicial staff and detainee movements, separated magistrate and testing trailers, and evidence-storage constraints. For nonjudicial county functions the consultantss initial pass indicated an overall space increase need of roughly 18%.
Next steps include completion of the architectural space program and facility-condition assessment database, monthly briefings to a judicial center steering committee, and development of alternative conceptual designs that will evaluate siting, phasing and build options. The consultant said the study is intended to inform the county capital-improvement program and budget planning for a new judicial center located in Warrenton.
The board did not act on design decisions at the session; Dewberrys team said the draft space program and facility-condition assessments are expected later this month and that conceptual alternatives will follow.
