Jacobsen Construction partnered with the state of Utah, Utah Courts and the city of Ogden to build a juvenile courthouse that would create a calm and secure environment for young defendants. The 88,000-sq-ft, five-story facility features floor-to-ceiling windows, state-of-the-art security systems, new digital audio equipment, separation areas for public and in-custody defendants, 20 holding cells and six courtrooms.

The courthouse also includes office space for judges, court staff, juvenile probation officers and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. The facility was built with an eye toward future expansion and growth, with shelled space for two additional courtrooms.

VCBO Architecture designed a modern structure that is warm and inviting and that maintains the dignity of a judicial setting. The large windows capture the daylight while also providing panoramic, majestic views of the mountains. The courthouse is set at a 20-degree angle toward 20th Street, giving it a unique and commanding presence in relation to surrounding buildings.

Cherry wood, glass tile and lighter colors add to the facility’s distinctive design, reinforcing its clean, contemporary feel. Dichromatic glass treatments on the window mullions splash the public areas with soft, prismatic light. The courtrooms are ornately clad with soft colors and wood to make them less intimidating while still communicating the sense of formality and reverence expected during judicial proceedings.

The new building will provide greater capacity and efficiency for the more than 5,000 young people and their parents who receive services from the 2nd District Juvenile Court each year.

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