Transportation and Works
Justice and Public Safety
November 5, 2014
Strengthening Community Services Through Innovative Infrastructure
Planning Underway for New Stephenville Court House
Kleinfeldt Mychajlowycz Architects (KMA) has been engaged to develop a plan for a new provincial court house in Stephenville, which will provide residents on the southwest coast with improved access to the provincial judicial system.
“Planning for a new provincial court house is a specialized process that must consider the safety and security of court proceedings. The planning process must also reflect the requirements of judges, lawyers, plaintiffs, sheriff’s officers, and the general public. KMA has significant experience in this area, which will assist in planning a new court house in Stephenville that will improve access to judicial services on the southwest coast.”
- The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works
As part of the contract, which is valued at $70,000, KMA will work with Hatch Mott MacDonald, a local engineering firm, to determine spatial requirements for a variety of rooms including court rooms, judge’s chambers, witness rooms, the lock-up, and visitation and meeting areas. The consultant will also consider how the building will operate with respect to the movement of people, and will provide a projected cost estimate and schedule.
“I am very pleased that this project is moving forward and I look forward to seeing the plan once it is developed. Administering justice at the busy Provincial Court in Stephenville is challenging as the current building was not initially designed for that purpose. While staff members have done a tremendous job to date in ensuring matters proceed appropriately, a new facility will provide a safer and more efficient environment.”
- The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
Opened in 1982, KMA is based in Toronto, Ontario, and provides a full range of architectural, programming, interior design, planning, urban design, and project management services with a specialty focus in the area of institutional facilities and the justice sector. To date, KMA has provided programming and planning for more than 150 court rooms valued at approximately $1 billion.
“This is wonderful news for the region. The intricate planning process for the new courthouse speaks directly to the Provincial Government's commitment to providing fair, secure and efficient access to the justice system to all residents of the region.”
- The Honourable Tony Cornect, Minister of Service NL and MHA for Port au Port
Since 2005, new courthouses have been constructed in Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Most recently, a new jury room was added in St. John’s to allow two trials to be held at the same time.
QUICK FACTS
- Kleinfeldt Mychajlowycz Architects (KMA) has been awarded a $70,000 contract to develop a plan for a new provincial court house in Stephenville.
- KMA is based in Toronto, Ontario, and provides a full range of architectural, programming, interior design, planning, urban design, and project management services with a specialty focus in the area of institutional facilities and the justice sector.
- Currently, the provincial courthouse in Stephenville is housed on the second floor of a building that was originally used as a military barracks. It is an active court that had more than 12,000 appearances in 2013-14.
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Media contacts:
| Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 690-6290 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
Luke Joyce Director of Communications Department of Justice and Public Safety 709-729-6985, 725-4165 lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca |
| Sherry Jones Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Tony Cornect MHA for Port au Port 709-643-0813 sherryjones@gov.nl.ca |
2014 11 05 10:20 a.m.