The new 471,000 square foot detention facility was a design/build venture with Turner Construction Company (Atlanta Capital Facilities) and was delivered in 24 months under the established budget. A total of 22 housing units are contained with a capacity of 882 beds including shell space of four additional units for a total of 1,100 beds. Due to demand, the shell areas were fitted-out within several years of this initial construction.

It is 14 levels in an 8 storey red brick, precast concrete and concrete frame structure. It is located at a very important intersection in Atlanta at the beginning of Peachtree Street which is the southern beginning point of the business district. It is adjacent and connected to the existing detention and courts facilities.

The aesthetics were designed to minimize the curse a detention facility and to offer a public offering with the entry plaza along this very important urban edge. Various treatments of precast concrete were composed in patterns that masked the 4-1/2” high slits of cell room windows allowing a layer visual scale that is pleasing as seen from the adjacent highway system, surface roads as well as from the pedestrian street level and not readily recognizable as used.

The Center uses the direct supervision approach; each group of housing units is organized around a program center creating a mini unit at each level. Male and female inmates are divided into maximum/medium and minimum security zones. Fencing has been replaced with micro-wave motion detectors that guard each opening of the facility. The sally-port allows bookings, transfers to existing jail and courthouse. Medical, laundry and full kitchen services are provided.

Architectural Design by: David Perkins, AIA
Services performed as employed by other firm