Best Project Government/Public Johnson County Courthouse
The new Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe, Kan., consolidates the 10th Judicial District Court, the district attorney’s office and supporting spaces into a seven-story cast-in-place concrete structure. Early collaboration while planning the project helped deliver substantial completion three months ahead of the original estimate. As a result, the team had more time for furniture, fixture and equipment installation, while the owner could focus more on training and moving in.
The original design was over budget, so early partnering helped the team identify more than 175 potential value engineering options. Ultimately, 38 options were presented, representing more than $10 million in savings while maintaining the original design intent. Reducing floor-to-floor heights by 1 ft, for example, saved nearly $1.5 million. Using planter walls in place of site seat walls saved nearly half a million dollars.