A rendering of a renovated and expanded Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold — Courtesy: DMR Architects.
By Joshua Burd
Construction is underway on a renovation and addition to the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, in a project designed by DMR Architects.
The practice on Tuesday detailed the plans at 71 Monument Park, which include a new 3,400-square-foot west wing security vestibule. The expansion will allow for modern security equipment and measures that the existing facility, built in 1954, could not accommodate and will serve as the lone entryway for all employees and visitors to the building, replacing the courthouse’s previously used east and west wing entrance hallways.
DMR said its design supports easy sightlines, an intuitive and efficient queuing system and ample space for machines such as metal detectors and up to four x-ray machines, along with technological upgrades with access to restricted areas and video monitoring systems.
“By investing in the space and technology required to support the most sophisticated safety protocols available today, Monmouth County is demonstrating its commitment to the safety of all those who work in the county courthouse and the hundreds that visit daily,” said Lloyd A. Rosenberg, CEO and president of DMR Architects. “We’re honored to provide the infrastructure that will allow Monmouth County’s judicial machine to continue running effectively.”
Aside from the new vestibule, the project provides for the reconstruction of the east wing main entrance stairs, landing and handrails, along with the restoration of additional exterior entrance stairs throughout the building, according to a news release. All improvements will comply with standards enumerated in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Epic Management is the project’s construction manager.
“It was important to address the practical needs of the county while seamlessly integrating the new addition with the aesthetic of the original courthouse,” said Kurt Vierheilig, director of design and partner at the Hasbrouck Heights-based firm. “The new security vestibule will be the new public lobby to the courthouse, expressing an appropriate civic presence with its modern exterior design, while improving the efficiency and safety of security screening and interior circulation.”
The Monmouth County west wing security vestibule is one of hundreds of government buildings that DMR has designed in New Jersey and one of 10 such projects either recently completed or currently underway. The firm is also working on designs in Montgomery, Wayne, Garfield, Ridgefield and Mahwah.
