New Maury County courthouse taking shape on South Main Street

The future Maury County Judicial Center is now standing tall with its two-story metal structure (and basement) in place as seen from Carmack Boulevard in Columbia.

County and state officials attended the "topping off" ceremony for the building's last and highest beam on Sept. 19. Since, the structure on South Main Street is steadily taking shape into a facility "our grandchildren" will remember, said Maury County Commission Chairman of the Board, Eric Priviti.

The approximately $34 million building is still on track for completion by fall of next year, according to Previti.

"Anyone driving up and down Carmack at this point has seen the new construction and hopefully has realized that it is the new Maury County Judicial Center," Previti said. "It's exciting to see all the progress there. The place is all lit up at night."

The new courts facility will be located at the old site of The Daily Herald newspaper 1969 building on South Main Street, which was demolished last year.

More: Maury Co. elected officials celebrate judicial center topping off ceremony

More: Maury Co. elected officials celebrate judicial center topping off ceremony

Upon last report from Hewlett Spencer, project owner advocate, the project has reached 40% completion and is slated for final completion between August and October 2024, weather permitting, Previti said.

Bell Construction is managing the build of the project.

The judicial center will be comprised of new courtrooms, administrative offices and meeting rooms for lawyers and clients, greatly relieving Maury County's existing historic 1906 courthouse on Public Square, which is bursting at the seams with activity, caseload and cramped facilities.

Public Defender, 22nd District, Travis B. Jones serves on the building project's steering committee, which ensures the features of the facility will benefit the needs of the 22nd District court system.

In his years of practice, Jones said he has spent "many years speaking to clients while sitting on the basement steps of our current, historic courthouse."

"While a beautiful centerpiece of our community, its adequacy has long since passed with the growth of our county," Jones said.

The new courthouse will provide much needed space, privacy and safety to all who enter, Maury County General Sessions Judge Bobby Sands said.

"The new courts building will address two key needs, more space to accommodate growing dockets in both civil and criminal cases and safety issues for persons required to be in the building as witnesses, victims and jurors," Sands said. "While, we love and respect our historic courthouse, it has safety issues, as well as accessibility issues which the new building should resolve."

Juvenile Court Judge Douglas Chapman agreed that the new building will greatly improve daily court operations.

"We are excited about it. It's great to see it coming up out of the ground," Chapman said. "You are starting to see what it's actually going to look like. It's going to be a lot more functional for everybody and the court system, as well as, provide privacy for clients and counsel."

He jokingly added that many are pleased to see the purple beams amid construction because "we like to support our Columbia Central High School Lions."

The Maury County Historical Society is also accepting items to include in a time capsule to be inserted in the walls of the building, according to society president Previti, which just received a grant for the project.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: New Maury County courthouse taking shape on South Main Street