DATE: June 6, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Alphonso Jefferson
Assistant to County Administrator
PHONE: 954-357-7352
EMAIL: ajefferson@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - Today marked an important milestone in the construction of Broward County’s new courthouse, with officials conducting a ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the completion of the Judicial Complex South Parking Garage, a courthouse employee garage located at the corner of Andrews Avenue and Seventh Street Southeast, in Fort Lauderdale. The garage will eventually accommodate up to 1,000 Broward County employees who will be working in the new Courthouse, which is under construction next door and on schedule to open in Summer 2015.
Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief welcomed guests and noted the planning and attention to detail that went into designing and building the garage for maximum efficiency and convenience. “The new garage is close to the new courthouse, and employees can enter and exit on two sides, which will reduce entrance and exit times during peak hours,” Mayor Sharief said.
To better gauge available parking, each level in the garage contains illuminated signage that lets patrons know how many spaces are available on that particular level. “The garage is equipped with modern monitoring systems,” said Sharief, “but at the same time, the garage runs more efficiently on less energy.”
Commissioner Stacy Ritter, who was instrumental in establishing the Courthouse Task Force, also spoke at the ceremony, noting that the garage was “another on time and on budget County project.”
Decorative trellises and protective canopies have also been installed along Andrews Avenue, along with planters, landscaping and new sidewalks.
To mark the achievement, the ribbon cutting was followed by a parade of new courthouse agency employees who were the first to officially enter the South parking garage and park. Among the first to park in the new facility were representatives from Court Administration, Clerk of the Courts, Broward Sheriff’s Office (Main Jail and District 6 Courthouse Security), State Attorney’s Office and Guardian Ad Litem.
To learn more about the progress of the new courthouse as well as other courthouse complex projects, visit Broward.org/NewCourthouse and follow us on Twitter @ CourtNewsFlash.