Miami courthouse design does justice to children and the environment

Suffolk Construction broke ground recently for the Miami-Dade County Children’s Courthouse, a $328 million project the firm has a 30-month contract to complete. The 378,000-sf facility, designed by HOK in collaboration with local firm Perez & Perez Architects Planners, will house all agencies relevant to juvenile cases. Included in the 14-story building are waiting rooms designed for children, courtrooms with T-shaped tables, judges’ chambers, holding cells, and offices. A green roof patio, high-performance façade, high-efficiency water system, and extensive daylighting are some of the features designed to help the building earn LEED Silver.