New Dane County Courthouse opens

The new Dane County Courthouse – the second largest and quite possibly the “greenest” courthouse in Wisconsin – opened for business on January 17. A grand opening ceremony and public tours preceded the official opening.

The sandstone color and triangular, flatiron shape of the new Dane County Courthouse help the building to blend with Madison’s downtown. The building’s angles made construction particularly challenging.

The 10-story, $44 million, flatiron building is the result of 15 years of debate, negotiation, and planning. Representing the courts in the process were Chief Judge Michael N. Nowakowski, former Chief Judge Daniel R. Moeser, Deputy Chief Judge Sarah B. O’Brien, and District Court Administrator Gail Richardson, whose contribution was recognized by many of the speakers at the grand opening event.

“In many ways,” O’Brien told the 200-plus people who turned out for the celebration, “this is Gail’s courthouse.”

The building was constructed using many recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Faux stone wainscoting, for example, was made from sawdust and recycled ceiling tiles. A roof garden off the fourth floor will help to control runoff and provide quiet space for court visitors and employees. Construction waste from the project was also recycled.

Gracing the courthouse walls is art in many forms. Judge Diane M. Nicks organized the installations, which include donations such as the complete state sesquicentennial print portfolio by Middleton printer Andrew Balkin and commissions such as the Peggy Flora Zalucha murals in the cafeteria.

Chief Judge Michael N. Nowakowski speaks at the grand opening celebration. The event was held in the Jury Assembly Room of the new Dane County Courthouse.

User-friendliness also is emphasized. Employees have windows that actually open, and visitors will find plenty of quiet spaces for private conferences. In the lobby, touch-screen computers will allow litigants to find the time and location of their hearing by entering their last name.

This is the first new courthouse built in Dane County since 1957, when the City-County Building was completed. Security problems and space issues were well documented in the City-County Building: witnesses, victims, defendants, family members, jurors, and members of the public all mingled in the public halls and small claims court was held in a small supply room.

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