Larimer County Sheriff's Office, leaders celebrate completion of jail expansion project
Larimer County leaders and members of the sheriff's office celebrated the final milestone in the yearslong jail expansion project with a ribbon-cutting Friday.
The ribbon-cutting marked the completion of the final phase of the project, which included expanding and remodeling the jail's medical facility and lobby that connects the jail with the sheriff's office administration building, according to a news release. The final phase also included a new central utility plant that provides utilities to the jail.
In the final phase, some of the old parts of the jail were renovated, including renovations to the old booking area to make it a release area so people aren't coming and going from the same area, Capt. Bobby Moll told the Coloradoan during a December tour of the jail's construction.
Construction on the $80 million expansion and improvement project began in 2020. The first phase wrapped up in July 2021, with the completion of new kitchen and laundry facilities. The second phase was completed in December 2022, which included a new housing unit, booking area and staff entrance and lounge.
The project increased the jail's capacity to 805 by adding 153 new beds, doubled the size of the booking area and the kitchen, increased the medical care space and added spaces specifically for people in mental health crisis, including padded holding cells in a more private section of the booking area.
Several county leaders who spoke at Friday's ribbon-cutting said this project was more than just adding beds to the jail; it was about increasing the quality of life for those housed in the jail.
"It's not about increasing bed space, it's about making it more livable, more safe," Sheriff John Feyen said.
The facility's enhancements — especially the improved safety measures and added space for mental health care — reflect the county's commitment to "promoting healing, growth and second chances," Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally said.
Former Sheriff Justin Smith and sheriff's office Capt. Tim Palmer — who were both in attendance at Friday's ribbon-cutting — joined other speakers in thanking current and past county leaders for their work on this project.
"This project is yet another example of how working together we can do better for our community," Commissioner John Kefalas said.
Palmer said they approached this project with the future in mind, and there is room to continue to remodel older parts of the jail and expand on the new addition as needed.
Dennis McGraw, the jail's maintenance manager, highlighted the challenges faced during construction, from working through the COVID-19 pandemic to the logistics of doing construction on an active secure facility.
"The entire teamwork aspect is what made this happen," McGraw said.
The project also involved creating more space for jail staff to work and for law enforcement who are bringing people to the jail to complete their paperwork. Several conference and training rooms were also added.
The addition — for the first time in 40 years — physically connected the jail with the existing sheriff's office administration building, allowing all sheriff's office staff to interact with each other and bring the department together, Feyen said. All sheriff's office employees now use the same entrance and large breakroom. Physically reuniting the sheriff's office with the jail is something the county has been working toward for decades, Smith said.
"It's clear (the jail) was created with intention that takes care of the people who are housed here ... and it's a great place for the people who work here," Commissioner Kristin Stephens said, and by focusing on best practices and providing services to increase people's quality of life, "we are investing in a brighter future for our community."
Larimer County Jail expansion and improvement project
Here's what the jail's $80 million expansion and improvement project consisted of:
Phase one, completed in July 2021:
New kitchen, double the size of the previous kitchen
New, larger laundry facility
New, more easily accessible boiler room
Phase two, completed in December 2022:
New housing unit, which added 153 beds
New booking area, double the size of the previous booking area
New staff entrance and lounge
New staff lounge
Phase three, completed in August 2023:
Renovations to old parts of the jail, creating a release area and expanding the medical facility space
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Larimer County leaders celebrate completion of jail expansion project
