Will County’s new judicial complex is modern and sleek. Its limestone rainscreen facade frames floor-to-ceiling windows, conveying the notion of transparency in justice. The building’s use of masonry evokes the pioneering spirit of the city’s industrial age and helps tie it in with surrounding architecture in Joliet.
Inside the central courtroom zone, a stone-cladding wall system installed by BAC Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois craftworkers with All Masonry provides privacy and warmth. Separate circulation areas, technology upgrades, and security screening stations improve the complex’s security, while natural light creates a sense of calm.
During the installation, IMI provided job site support to review craftmanship and document best practices, which have been incorporated into IMI’s Rainscreen Certificate Program.
The judicial complex plays a key role in the revitalization of downtown Joilet, just southwest of Chicago.
Project Highlights
- An expansive green roof provides a welcoming space for juror breaks. Other areas of the roof use photovoltaics for solar energy.
- A total of 38 courtrooms serve criminal, civil, family, traffic, and special proceedings cases.
- The new courtrooms allow the judicial system to process additional cases.
Photo: Steve Hall & Kendall Ristau Photographers, LTD