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Commonwealth Superior Court Complex

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Commonwealth Superior Court Complex

Taunton, MA

MA Dept. Of Capital Asset Management

Fed/State/Mil

Constructed in the late 1800s, the historic Superior Court in downtown Taunton was in desperate need of renovation and expansion to meet contemporary judicial needs. The needs of the modern judiciary have drastically evolved since that time, and the existing facilities did not allow barrier-free access, security, and technology needs to be met.

Sustainable features

The site chosen for the new building addition was formerly used for industrial purposes, and toxic chemicals were detected in the groundwater. S E A's environmental scientists managed the testing program and with our geotechnical engineers developed approaches to mitigate this issue. DCAM's Appendix N was utilized to establish sustainable guidelines in the construction specifications.

Client collaboration

S E A worked interactively with the Department Of Capital Asset Management, the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, and the City of Taunton to program the court's needs, analyze alternative sites, and suggest expansion and renovation options. S E A arranged periodic meetings with all these groups and helped define common goals.

Client results

The needs of the Superior Court were well-defined and likely budget, schedule, and operational impacts understood. S E A established a design direction for renovating the historic structure and proposed an exciting new addition to bring the judicial complex into the 21st century.