Cherokee County Detention Center renovation completes

The 225,000-sf Cherokee County Adult Detention Center was first completed in 2002, but has recently undergone a renovation project that included the addition of more than 110,000-sf of space to keep up with the county’s growing needs.

Through the expansion, the Center acquired a 582-bed housing tower composed of precast concrete modular cells with structural precast walls and floors, a load bearing CMU, and elevated cast-in-place concrete. 21-day rooms were specially designed for indirect supervision from elevated control towers and three exercise yards. Additional renovations took place in the kitchen, staff dining area, laundry facilities, visitation areas, the lobby, and the master control.

The existing kitchen was expanded to accommodate the increased number of meals needing to be prepared. The staff dining area was given improved finishes to create a more pleasing environment. The main control room was modified to increase the monitoring capabilities of the Sheriff’s staff to view all movement within the detention center.

Several previously unused areas were reinstated, including the original main detention entrance that had been unused for years by staff and the public. The area was renovated and modified to become the new video visitation site, creating a safe and efficient way for visitors to speak with inmates.

New public restrooms for visitors, a secure control station for the Sheriff’s staff to monitor visitor activities, 29 video visitation stations, space for 22 additional monitors, and six private attorney video visitation booths were also added.

CROFT provided the architectural design and construction administration services for the renovation/new service areas for the project. CROFT also served as a partner to Studio 8 for the housing pod addition and served as the construction administration lead for the 117,000 sq. ft., 600 bed addition to the Cherokee County Jail.