News

Performa, Inc. Plans New Justice Center for Monroe County

Proposed Facility supports the county's needs into 2030 and beyond

DE PERE, WI. Dec. 28, 2010—In July 2010, Monroe County turned to Performa, Inc., a De Pere-based planning, design and engineering firm, to plan a new Justice Center using as much as possible of the existing facility and land in downtown Sparta. A referendum vote to fund this project will take place in April 2011. View the proposed plan at: http://www.co.monroe.wi.us/index.php.

Performa’s plan respects the existing courthouse, consolidates outlying county departments into the Justice Center complex, keeps the operational budget at or less than the current cap, and supports staff and space needs to the year 2030 and beyond. Monroe County's new Justice Center will create a more efficient, humane and safe criminal justice facility, increasing the number of beds to meet the average daily capacity of 90 to 120 beds. The complex will consolidate county departments, creating operational efficiencies, providing Monroe County citizens with one point of access and eliminating the need for rental space. It also will update operating systems and code requirements and provide jail and courtroom spaces that follow and comply with industry standards.

The purposed complex will be constructed in progressive steps to meet the needs of the community and reduce upfront, concentrated costs. "Performa has given us the information to make a sound decision,” said Rick Irwin, Building Project Committee Chairman. “They are to be commended for the amount of work and due diligence they performed in such a short period of time.”

To kick off the three-month project, Performa held weeklong workshop sessions to understand the organizational, operational and functional needs of the new justice center. Performa staff met with all key user groups including courts, sheriff/jail, administration, local businesses, city and county officials, historical society, Sparta Planning Department, and Community and Monroe County Justice Center Planning Committee. In addition to the work sessions, Performa assessed the physical condition of the existing facility and conducted a site analysis.
  
About Performa, Inc.
Performa Inc. is a Wisconsin-based corporation licensed in 42 states in all areas of the practice of Planing, Interior Design, Space Planning, Architecture and Engineering. Performa was founded in 1995 by a small, tight-knight group of experienced planners, architects and engineers for the single purpose of creating more practical solutions for clients' business challenges—solutions that deliver measurably higher operational and financial performance.  As a premier consultant for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Performa has established national design standards for federal agencies throughout the U.S.  Performa’s practice areas also include high-performance workplace environments, research & development, training, food and beverage, printing and converting and fabrication and assembly facilities. For more information and news, follow Performa on Twitter or visit its website at www.performainc.com.