Montgomery County Breaks Ground in Norristown on Justice Center, Expanded Public Park

(The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Communications.)

The Montgomery County Commissioners, joined by the Honorable President Judge Thomas Del Ricci and Norristown Municipal Council President Derrick Perry, broke ground on Tuesday on the Montgomery County Justice Center, a landmark project for the county campus and the Municipality of Norristown.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the world-renowned architecture firm, the Justice Center Project ties three complex projects into one. Constructing a new, modern county justice center, completely renovating the existing historic courthouse facility, and more than doubling the size of the reimagined Hancock Square park as accessible, and active public green space right in the downtown. The three main aspects of the project are as follows:

• Montgomery County Justice Center: A new 325,000-square-foot, six-story building connected to the existing courthouse housing 18 courtrooms, court-related offices, and public spaces.
• Hancock Square Park: More than doubling the size of Hancock Square park. The downtown public park will expand from the current 23,000-square-feet to 57,000-square-feet, incorporating carefully planned native landscape plantings, direct access from Main Street, and respectful incorporation of current monuments into reflective spaces.
• Historic Courthouse: Complete renovation of the existing courthouse, incorporating detailed attention to historic preservation and a full replacement of all utility infrastructure systems.

“Breaking ground on this transformational project will create local jobs and procurement opportunities right here in Montgomery County for years to come,” said Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “The Justice Center represents years of planning to design a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the County’s needs for the next century and make all justice-related services more accessible to our residents.”

Skanska is the project’s construction manager. When complete, the Justice Center will enhance the vitality of downtown Norristown through the development of new public spaces complete with improved access to the surrounding streets.

“The Justice Center’s design was intentional to expand public park space while also creating a welcoming environment for anyone visiting the facility,” said Kenneth E. Lawrence, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This project will change the face of Main Street and complement ongoing efforts to bolster the development of downtown Norristown.”

The Justice Center will consolidate the county’s court and administrative facilities into a single 508,150-square foot campus creating a one stop shop for anyone interacting with the county’s justice system. All courtrooms in the new building are designed for efficiency to minimize travel distances and permit a high degree of flexibility and security.

“This collaborative effort has resulted in the design of a complex both necessary and appropriate to ensure the administration of justice for the citizens of Montgomery County now and in the future,” said The Honorable Thomas Del Ricci, President Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.

The Montgomery County Justice Center is targeting LEED Gold certification and is expected to open in 2026. To download renderings of the Justice Center, click here.

To read the full project narrative, click here. For procurement opportunities related to the Justice Center, click here.

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