LAWRENCE, Kan.—Douglas County and JE Dunn Construction recently held a topping-out ceremony to hail the finalization of the structural phase of the addition to the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. This benchmark signifies the placement of the final beam at the highest point of the structure. The beam, after being signed by construction workers, employees and various officials, was lifted into place by a crane.
The ceremony included short remarks by Tim Ockinga, Vice President of JE Dunn Construction, and The Honorable James McCabria, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial District Court of Kansas. The event was held in part to express gratitude to the construction crews for their dedication and hard work.
The addition will include six courtrooms with associated judges’ chambers, office areas for District Court staff, and new holding areas for individuals in custody making court appearances. The steel structure is up, marking a major milestone and bringing the project a step closer to completion. The endeavor includes a 60,000-square-foot addition plus a 100,000-square-foot revamp of the existing Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, with the goal of better serving the Douglas County community for many years to come.
Treanor Architects led the design of the project, which is on track for a summer 2026 completion.
Founded in 1924, JE Dunn is the 8th-largest domestic general building contractor in the U.S. with offices in 26 locations and hundreds of project sites across the country. Its work and portfolio of projects spans dozens of industries, including healthcare, aviation, corporate environments, Federal and military, industrial, education, mission critical, science and technology, and more. The firm has been a juggernaut in the justice sector over the years, with well over 100 completed projects and a legacy of memorable police/public safety venues, courthouses and correctional facilities.
Treanor Architects is the design firm behind this substantial project. The firm was founded in 1981, and in addition to justice also provides their design expertise to schools, housing, healthcare and historic preservation. Treanor’s recent outstanding justice projects include the Glynn County Juvenile Center in Georgia and the Moffat County Government Center & Courthouse in Colorado. The firm has numerous offices and is headquartered in Lawrence, Kan.
Photo Credit: JE Dunn
