ST. CLOUD, Minn.—Stearns County’s long‑planned Justice Center is officially moving into construction, marking a major milestone for what is now the largest public works project in the county’s history. The new 482,000‑square‑foot campus — designed to consolidate courts, detention, law enforcement, and justice services under one roof — is rising on a 78‑acre site at County Road 75 and County Road 134, where earthwork and foundation activity are already underway.
The project replaces the county’s aging 1986 Law Enforcement Center, a facility that has struggled with overcrowding, operational inefficiencies, and costly off‑site inmate housing for decades. Once complete, the new Justice Center will include a 270‑bed jail, 11 modern courtrooms, and dedicated space for the Sheriff’s Office, County Attorney, Community Corrections, Probation, Emergency Management, and administrative support functions. County leaders describe the campus as a generational investment designed to serve Stearns County for the next 50 years.
A Collaborative Design Effort
The county selected Klein McCarthy Architects as architect of record, partnering with HDR on justice planning, courts programming, and large‑scale civic facility design. Both firms bring extensive experience in modern justice environments, and their collaboration has shaped a facility that emphasizes safety, efficiency, and long‑term adaptability.
Klein McCarthy, a Minnesota‑based firm known for its justice portfolio, has recently led design efforts for detention and courthouse projects across the Midwest, including modernization initiatives that incorporate direct‑supervision housing, podular layouts, and trauma‑informed design principles. Their work often prioritizes daylight, clear sightlines, and calming circulation patterns — elements that appear throughout the Stearns County design.
HDR, meanwhile, has been involved in several high‑profile justice and civic projects nationwide, including county justice centers, consolidated courts campuses, and public safety facilities that integrate sustainability and operational efficiency. Their recent work has emphasized flexible courtroom design, secure yet welcoming public interfaces, and staff‑focused wellness spaces — all themes reflected in Stearns County’s new facility.
The partnership between the two firms has been widely praised by county officials and project stakeholders. As one project team member noted, “Strong partnerships make all the difference,” citing the collaborative relationship between the client group, HDR colleagues, and Klein McCarthy as a key factor in the project’s momentum.
Construction Gains Traction
Construction is being delivered through a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) model, with Kraus‑Anderson serving as the CMAR. This approach allowed the county to lock in costs early and navigate a volatile bidding environment. The strategy paid off: the project’s total cost dropped from an initial estimate of $325 million to under $290 million.
A competitive bidding climate contributed to the savings. The county received 225 bids, including 55 from Stearns County businesses, and estimates that roughly 60% of construction dollars will remain within the local economy. Several bid packages were rebid to reduce costs, including structural steel, and accessory structure contracts were awarded after additional rounds of pricing refinement.
On site, earthwork is substantially complete, truck traffic has decreased following early heavy hauling phases, and footings and foundations are progressing. A tower crane installation is expected soon, signaling the transition into vertical construction.
A Project Years in the Making
The Justice Center has moved through a series of major approvals over the past year, including land annexation into St. Cloud, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet review, and entitlement steps required for a project of this scale. Funding is supported by a 3/8‑cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2024.
With construction underway, the county is targeting spring 2029 for completion.
County leaders emphasize that the new Justice Center is not simply a replacement facility, but a transformational investment in how Stearns County delivers justice services. They point to improved safety, streamlined operations, and long‑term cost savings as key benefits, along with the ability to consolidate departments that have long been scattered across multiple aging buildings in downtown St. Cloud.
The new campus is also designed with future growth in mind. Its flexible courtrooms, expandable detention areas, and modern administrative spaces will allow the county to adapt to changing needs over the coming decades without the costly retrofits that have plagued the existing facility. Officials say the Justice Center will reduce inmate transport, improve staff working conditions, and create a more accessible experience for residents navigating the justice system.
With construction now underway and major milestones ahead, the Stearns County Justice Center is poised to reshape the region’s civic landscape. As one project team member noted, “Strong partnerships make all the difference,” and county leaders say those partnerships — between the client group, HDR, Klein McCarthy Architects, Kraus‑Anderson, and dozens of local contractors — have been essential in bringing the project to life.
When the facility opens in 2029, it will mark the culmination of years of planning, community engagement, and collaboration. For Stearns County, it represents not just a new building, but a long‑term commitment to safety, efficiency, and public service — and a justice system built to meet the needs of the next half‑century.
