Client: Webster County |  Location: Marshfield, Missouri
Year Completed: 2020 |  Size: 56,000 SF

HMN Architects was selected to design the new Webster County Justice Center. The new facility replaced their existing jail located in the courthouse that was complete in 1941.

Webster County had selected a site occupied by the Robertson building, which had anchored the town square’s northeast corner since 1894. The proposed concept shared some of the Robertson’s building’s architectural features, a pediment, a covered walkway, and a distinctive red brick. The new 56,000 SF facility is significantly larger and houses the jail, Sheriff’s office, and a courtroom.

The two-story entry is highlighted with a large gabled skylight. Natural light continues with a curtain wall along the covered south wall of the lobby and wraps around the east end to extend for the future courts’ functions.

The 110-bed jail includes the Jail Administrator’s office and work-related areas for the jail staff. The Sheriff’s Office contains offices for the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Administrative Supervisor, and a large flexible space for administrative staff, detectives, and road patrol. The third level houses the jury courtroom with spaces for the Clerk of the Court, County Attorney, and Judge to utilize until the second phase is constructed.

The design does a great job of respecting the town square’s character and the building it replaced while giving the community a state-of-the-art jail, courtroom, and Sheriff’s Office.