Blue Earth County Justice Center

Before relocating the Blue Earth County Justice Center to a hilltop site in Mankato, Paulsen Architects worked extensively with a planning committee and local community members to study multiple site options. Consolidating from their multiple locations spread out through the downtown area into a new facility provides a single location to better serve the county’s residents.

The building houses the county courts and jail, offices for judges, attorneys, public defenders, sheriffs & county administrative staff, and a dispatch center. The new 167,970 square foot facility, completed in Spring of 2009, is designed to increase safety, access efficiencies between agencies; reduce response times & operational costs, and accommodate future growth.

This is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Certified jail facility in the United States and is also the largest LEED building in Southern Minnesota. Energy costs are projected to be over 30% less than a traditionally designed building from the large geo-thermal ground source heat pump system to heat and cool the building. Precast concrete panels, limestone blocks, and bricks to numerous metal products from local manufacturers contribute to over 20% of the building’s materials. Other interior finish materials have recycled or rapidly renewable content. The site maximized open space for a prairie restoration project, native landscaping and future building expansion. Rain gardens clean and manage the stormwater from the building’s roof and parking areas before heading to the stormwater pond and watershed, protecting the water quality of local wetlands, lakes and rivers.

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