The state is planning to build an $81 million courthouse in Torrington to replace Superior Court buildings in Litchfield and Bantam.
Governor Dannel Malloy held a news conference Tuesday morning to release details of the project, which is also on the state bond commission's agenda later this week.
"Though it’s taken more than a generation," Malloy said in a statement, "I’m proud that we could move this project forward and begin the necessary work of building a 21st century courthouse. By consolidating operations into one facility, we can save taxpayers time and make operations more efficient."
Site plan for the building pic.twitter.com/VkNY9GnqLA
— Esteban L. Hernandez (@EstebanHRZ) May 27, 2014
The Register Citizen reports the building would house six civil courtrooms, two criminal courtrooms, an arraignment courtroom four hearing rooms, six resident judges' chambers, and one administrative judge's chamber. Malloy's office said the new facility will be 174,000 square feet, with 384 parking space on site.
The courthouse would replace the Geographic Area Courthouse at 80 Doyle Road in Bantam, currently a leased facility; the Judicial District Courthouse at 15 West Street in Litchfield; the Family Services Office at 40 Commons Drive in Litchfield, a leased facility; and the Juvenile Court at 410 Winsted Road in Torrington, also leased.
The Judicial Branch has requested more than $71 million in borrowing for the project, which it said will create more than 1,400 construction jobs.
Officials plan to break ground in the fall, and complete the project by the end of 2015.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.