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Prince William County鈥檚 judicial center needs a $488 million expansion to more than double its size to meet ongoing and future needs, according to a consultant.
Tony Bell of Moseley Architects presented a master plan for the complex in Manassas to the Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday. The judicial center is home to the shared court system of the county, Manassas and Manassas Park and offices of the commonwealth鈥檚 attorney and sheriff. It鈥檚 also attached to the county jail.
The system has been deluged in recent years with a compounding problem of increasing caseloads coupled with rising population.
鈥淭he space at the courthouse has been an issue for 10 years,鈥� said Matt Villareale, the county鈥檚 director of facilities and fleet management. 鈥淲e鈥檝e shoehorned staff into every corner we could.鈥�
Last year, the board allocated $5 million toward design for an expansion.
The plan presented Tuesday would increase the size of the facility from 167,680 square feet to 439,017 square feet and increase the number of courtrooms from 18 to 30.
The proposal includes a 950-space parking garage on an existing lot, taking the number of parking spots from 1,191 to 1,933.
Chief Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving said although the judicial center added a seventh judge last year, it already needs another. She said space is running out and causing problems for jurors who can鈥檛 find parking.
鈥淭he existing building is not functioning in the way we need it to function. 鈥� We are absolutely in dire need around the courthouse,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o hold this back until we have $300 million is to do the citizens of the county a disservice 鈥� We鈥檙e out of space.鈥�
The master plan proposes work in phases, but would in total cost more than $488 million.
The board did not allocate any funding during Tuesday鈥檚 work session.
鈥淲e know we need a new courthouse system,鈥� said Board Chair Ann Wheeler. 鈥淚鈥檓 just a little concerned it鈥檚 a little over $400 million and we don鈥檛 have that in our [Capital Improvement Program].鈥�
