ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Monroe County has completed a transformative new chapter in its juvenile justice system with the recent opening of a 51,000‑square‑foot Juvenile Detention Center, a facility that reimagines how architecture, behavioral health, and security can work in concert to support youth rehabilitation. Built by DiPasquale Construction Corporation and designed by NELSON in partnership with SWBR, the center replaces an outdated, high‑risk building that for decades struggled to safely and appropriately house young people in custody.
The new facility marks the culmination of more than 20 years of planning, political negotiation, and design evolution. Since the early 1980s, NELSON has served as a trusted partner to Monroe County, shaping master plans and improvements for the county’s justice infrastructure. Their relationship deepened in 2000, when the Monroe County Department of Probation commissioned a comprehensive juvenile detention master plan. That effort evaluated multiple sites, tested downtown and suburban locations, and established the programmatic foundation for what would eventually become the county’s most ambitious youth‑focused civic project.
But progress was anything but linear. Across multiple county administrations, shifting priorities repeatedly paused the effort. Only in 2018 did the project regain momentum, when Monroe County authorized a study to expand the existing juvenile facility on Westfall Road. By 2022, final design and construction were underway—led by DiPasquale Construction, whose role proved pivotal in translating a complex therapeutic vision into a secure, code‑compliant, and operationally efficient building.
At the heart of the design is a belief that physical environments can promote healing. NELSON’s team drew inspiration from the historic Hospital of the Innocents in Florence, Italy, known for its restorative courtyard layout. Translating that architectural language into a high‑security detention facility required both creativity and precision. The building’s single‑height profile and angled ceilings posed engineering challenges, particularly around concealing mechanical systems without compromising the secure perimeter. Navigating a regulatory landscape involving multiple state and federal agencies added further complexity. Through meticulous documentation and coordination, the design team met every compliance requirement while preserving the project’s therapeutic intent.
The result is a facility that feels fundamentally different from traditional detention environments. A central courtyard anchors the building, serving as a natural sightline and intuitive wayfinding element. Floor‑to‑ceiling storefront glass floods corridors with daylight, reducing stress and improving visibility for staff. In the educational wing, angled ceilings amplify natural light, creating a more uplifting environment for learning. Acoustic dampening materials and carefully selected color palettes help regulate sensory experiences—an essential consideration for youth with trauma histories or behavioral health needs.
Residential spaces reflect the same commitment to dignity and normalization. Single‑occupancy rooms feature security‑rated wooden doors and warm wall paneling, avoiding the institutional harshness common in juvenile facilities. The rooms are designed as “dry cells,” intentionally built without individual toilets. This approach encourages shared use of common facilities, allowing bedrooms to function more like real living spaces rather than sterile detention cells.
DiPasquale Construction’s execution of these details was central to the project’s success. As the prime contractor, the firm delivered the facility under budget—an achievement aided by cost‑effective design strategies such as the extensive use of glass. Their work included constructing secure housing units, classrooms, medical and behavioral health spaces, a gymnasium, kitchen, administrative offices, and the signature courtyard. Staff have already credited the building’s wide corridors, clear sightlines, and biophilic elements with improving daily operations and enhancing their sense of safety.
The new Juvenile Detention Center stands as a testament to Monroe County’s commitment to youth rehabilitation and community well‑being. It reflects the belief—shared by the county executive, the Department of Probation, and the design and construction teams—that good environments can shape better outcomes. For the young people who will pass through its doors, the facility offers not just secure custody, but a space designed to reduce anxiety, support learning, and foster hope.
After two decades of planning, negotiation, and persistence, Monroe County has delivered a facility that sets a new standard for therapeutic justice—one where architecture, behavioral health, and security work together to create a safer, more humane future for youth in custody.
