Peoria Municipal Court

The City of Peoria's municipal court required expanded spaces and services to meet the needs of its ever-increasing population.

A normal day at the courthouse would have the public crowd the lobby and queue into the hallway, blocking restroom and stair access. On some days, the line extended outside the building. The facility also lacked space for staff, juries, or those in custody. To address these inadequacies, the City of Peoria envisioned a modern interpretation of a traditional courthouse with an enduring style and expanded spaces for all users. To accomplish the task, the existing portion of the outdated and undersized 18,000-sf courthouse was renovated and an additional 17,000-sf was added.

The updated program includes three courtrooms; a hearing room; public lobby; jury assembly and deliberation rooms, administrative office space; and a secure suite for the city attorney staff. To ensure the facility is ADA-accessible, major upgrades were made to public pedestrian paths and interior spaces. A complex phased construction plan was developed allowing the court to stay functional throughout the construction.