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| Blue Earth County Goes “Green” in Its New Justice Center and Jail |
| By community.nicic.gov |
| Published: 06/18/2012 |
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The Blue Earth County Justice Center and Jail in Mankato, Minnesota, is a new, multipurpose facility created to update county services, increase jail capacity, and streamline criminal justice processes for the county. It was also the first “green” public construction project in the south-central part of the state. The process of envisioning, planning, and constructing the facility took nearly 2 decades of careful consideration by county leaders, community stakeholders, and a multitude of constituents and consultants. The end result is a safe, operationally efficient, and secure facility that provides a future-oriented solution to the county’s need for jail space, court security, and accessibility for the public. The Blue Earth County Justice Center resides on a nearly 40-acre parcel. The building itself is 172,000 square feet in size and houses the sheriff’s office, county attorney, county jail, the probation department, and the courts. Green building initiatives were an important component in the planning process. The county sought to ensure environmental stewardship through a facility that saves resources, utilizes fewer taxpayer dollars to operate, and keeps future generations in mind. Blue Earth County strived to lead by example in constructing the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified facility in south-central Minnesota. It is also the first LEED-certified jail in the state. Community engagement was a vital aspect of the project—from involving citizen groups in the early planning stages to holding numerous public meetings to hosting a series of grand opening activities and tours. Reaction to the new facility has been overwhelmingly positive. Read More. |
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