Elkhart County Courthouse

In an effort to consolidate the two County Courthouses, Elkhart County Commissioned JPR – as part of the PSI project team – to deliver a new courthouse located in Goshen, IN. JPR served as project lead for the civil and site design. Working with the County, along with multiple stakeholders including the City of Goshen, the JPR team executed a rigorous analysis and visioning process to develop a Master Plan for the courthouse campus. This Master Plan built consensus and provided a clear plan for future growth.

As part of the pre-design and analysis process, JPR coordinated a Traffic Impact Analysis which guided the planning effort for adjacent roadway improvements that were necessary for the courthouse development. The site design included 300 visitor and 200 staff parking spaces, along with a prominent pedestrian circulation system and plaza space. Security and safety were paramount throughout the design and included key sight lines, natural building protection features, site access control, first responder access, and lighting.

The stormwater is managed through a series of passive capture and filtration systems allowing for infiltration and groundwater recharge opportunities. Both visitors and staff are given an opportunity to utilize campus pathways along the perimeter of the site, taking advantage of the natural landscape and stormwater retention areas.

Additionally, the Master Plan allows for the future implementation of county maintenance and office structures.

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