San Diego County, Central Courthouse

NOTICE: Based on the Judicial Council's October 26, 2012 decision, this project will proceed with architectural design.

California’s fiscal crisis and unprecedented cuts to the judicial branch budget required that 24 court construction projects be scaled back in scope and cost before proceeding, while 7 other courthouse projects will be delayed indefinitely until funding is restored.

Facts In anticipation of additional cost-cutting measures, all facts are subject to change. More information
Courtrooms: 71 Square footage: 704,000 Current authorized budget: $620,117,000 Estimated construction costs per square foot are being updated Current status: Architectural design: working drawings Current expected completion: 2 Q 2016 Historical Documents Architect's Rendering: Cross-Section Diagram Fact Sheet Budget Package (10 MB)	Video: Statewide Tour of Courthouse Needs Includes San Diego (3:53)

The Superior Court of San Diego County is currently located in multiple facilities in the San Diego metropolitan area, most of which are seriously outdated and deficient. This project will replace the County Courthouse, the Family Courthouse, and the Madge Bradley Courthouse in downtown San Diego. These buildings have been found to be unsafe, overcrowded, and inadequate for modern court operations. It will also bring downtown a small claims calendar from the Kearny Mesa courthouse, improving service to residents of the central San Diego area.

The planned courthouse will provide the court's central court district with a full-service, consolidated facility for criminal, probate, family court, and small claims services. This project is the largest of 41 projects to be funded under the Senate Bill 1407 court construction program.

The County of San Diego and the City of San Diego have strongly supported the new courthouse in downtown San Diego. The County and the AOC negotiated an equity exchange agreement for a site near the Central Jail, approximately 1.4 acres in downtown San Diego bounded by West "C" Street, Union Street, West "B" Street, and State Street. Some parties refer to the site as the "Stahlman Block."

The project includes a bridge between the new courthouse and the Hall of Justice. After completion of the new courthouse, the AOC intends to demolish the County Courthouse and Old Jail sometime in the future.

The equity exchange agreement includes other features, which include the state assuming liability for any seismic damage. In the exchange agreement, the state will also receive equity to approximately 20,000 square feet of space in the Chula Vista Regional Justice Center, for badly needed additional court operations to address large increases in caseload in southern San Diego County.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance

The AOC is the lead agency for preparation of an environmental report to comply with CEQA.

Background

August 9, 2010, to September 22, 2010: Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) circulated.

September 8, 2010: Public meeting held.

In response to public comments, the AOC completed a Final EIR.

EIR, part 1
EIR, part 2
Appendices A through E
Appendix F
Appendices G-I

On December 15, 2010, the AOC filed a Notice of Determination, thereby completing the CEQA process.

Architect's rendering: New Central San Diego Courthouse: Southeast facade

Architect's rendering: View from southwest

Media requests for high-resolution versions of these renderings should be directed to Teresa Ruano, AOC Office of Communications, 415-865-7447

Architecture/Engineering Firm	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP
Construction Manager at Risk	Rudolph and Sletten, Inc.
Subcontractor Bidding	Schedule TBD

News Releases
San Diego Courthouse Design Approved (5/11/12)
Cost Cutting Approved in Court Construction (4/24/12)
Public Meeting and Invitation to Comment (8/16/10)
Construction Manager at Risk Selected (5/27/10)
Funding Authorization (11/16/09)