Columbus’ new $207.5 million judicial center nears completion, bringing modern technology, enhanced security
After years of planning and nearly three years of construction, the City of Columbus is preparing to open the new John D. Allen Judicial Center, a $207.5 million project that city leaders say will modernize the local court system for decades to come.
The 342,000-square-foot judicial complex is scheduled for substantial completion in September 2026 and will replace the aging Government Center courthouse, which has served the community for more than 50 years.
The eight-story building, which also includes a basement level, was funded primarily through the 2021 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), with $200 million coming from SPLOST funds and an additional $7.5 million from the city’s General Fund.
Construction began in December 2023. Once completed, city departments and court-related offices will begin relocating after furniture installation and systems testing are finalized.
According to Ryan Pruett, Director of Building Inspections and Code Enforcement, the new facility addresses several longstanding issues present in the current courthouse.
“The technology is a big part of it,” Pruett said. “The courtrooms are best practice courtrooms now as far as technology — microphones, speakers and audio-visual capabilities.”
The new judicial center also significantly improves security measures. Unlike the current facility, public visitors, judges, court staff and individuals in custody will have separate circulation paths throughout the building and will only come into contact inside courtrooms when necessary.
“This facility solves that problem,” Pruett said. “It’s a lot more secure.”
Accessibility was also a major focus during the design process. The building includes ADA-compliant jury boxes, witness stands and accessible seating throughout courtrooms.
The project has been years in the making. Pruett said discussions surrounding the need for a new courthouse date back more than a decade, including the entirety of his 10 years with the city.
Design and construction contracts were awarded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily slowed progress. Following voter approval of the 2021 SPLOST referendum, the city moved forward with finalizing designs and beginning construction.
“We’ve been talking about this project that whole time,” Pruett said. “Seeing it get this far is a good feeling, being able to see it jump off the page into real life.”
City officials emphasized that residents played a major role in determining the project’s future. Multiple options were presented to the public before voters ultimately approved building a new courthouse on its current downtown location.
“The citizens actually selected this for the option they wanted the money spent on,” Pruett said.
The judicial center features 13 courtrooms, with shell space already constructed to accommodate four additional courtrooms in the future without displacing existing offices. Officials say the building was intentionally designed with future expansion in mind and is expected to serve the community for more than 50 years.
The building will house numerous judicial functions, including Superior, State, Municipal, Magistrate, Probate and Juvenile courts, as well as the District Attorney’s Office, Solicitor General’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Accountability Courts and the Office of Dispute Resolution.
The floor layout includes:
First Floor: Main entry, jury assembly and Office of Dispute Resolution.
Second Floor: Clerk of Superior and State Court and Probate Court.
Third Floor: Two courtrooms primarily serving State Court, the Solicitor General’s Office and the Law Library.
Fourth Floor: Municipal and Magistrate Court courtroom, court clerks and District Attorney Victim Witness services.
Fifth Floor: Four Superior Court courtrooms.
Sixth Floor: Three Superior Court courtrooms.
Seventh Floor: Two Juvenile Court courtrooms and Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office.
Eighth Floor: District Attorney’s Office.
West Wing: Accountability Courts and the Public Defender’s Office.
The complex will also include approximately 500 parking spaces, as promised in the SPLOST referendum. More than 200 employee parking spaces are located beneath the building, while additional surface and street parking will help meet the total parking goal.
Once occupants relocate, the current Government Center tower is slated for demolition. Officials have not yet finalized whether the building will be imploded or mechanically demolished floor-by-floor. Demolition activities are expected to begin shortly after the move and continue into next year.
During the transition period, both the old and new courthouses will operate simultaneously for several months while offices are relocated. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office has developed a security plan to accommodate both facilities during the move.
Pruett said the investment will provide the city with flexibility for future growth, noting that additional courtrooms and office space could be added if needed in the decades ahead.
“It’s exciting,” Pruett said. “It’s probably the biggest project that the city’s ever undertaken. Of course, we couldn’t have gotten here without all the input from the judges, the sheriff’s office, the clerks and all the users of the building.”
Substantial completion of the John D. Allen Judicial Center remains on schedule for September 2026.
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