photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The final beam for the structure of the JLEC addition was installed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

A multimillion dollar expansion of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in downtown Lawrence hit a major milestone on Wednesday — — the installation of the final beam in the building’s new addition.

The beam’s placement sparked a celebration among construction workers at the job site near 11th and New Hampshire streets, but county officials also were celebrating the bigger picture on Wednesday: The expanded judicial center is on schedule to open next summer.

“Seeing the project at this stage is exciting, and I think that the improvements to access, to security, to the usability of the facility for judging staff and litigants, it makes whatever challenges we will face between now and completion seem much less intimidating,” Douglas County District Court Judge James McCabria said. “But even more exciting for me is to think of how this building with these improvements will be able to serve this community 50 years from now.”

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

District Court Judge James McCabria spoke during the topping-out ceremony of the JLEC addition.

The addition involves constructing a 158,075-square-foot building on the south side of the existing JLEC. The new building will include six courtrooms with corresponding judges’ chambers, office space for District Court staff, new holding areas for individuals in custody attending court, and rooftop solar panels. This phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026.

Once the building addition is complete, renovations to the existing JLEC are scheduled to begin next July. The remodeled areas will feature three updated courtrooms, reconfigured office spaces, and modernized public areas, including the lobby and restrooms. Public services such as the Clerk of the District Court and the Douglas County Law Library will be relocated closer to the main entrance for improved accessibility.

The construction timeline is happening alongside the new Public Safety Building, which will be next to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. Together, the renovation and addition of the JLEC and the construction of the new Public Safety Building is the largest capital improvement project in the county’s history.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Several people gathered in the parking lot of the JLEC building on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 for the topping-off ceremony of the building’s new addition.

On Wednesday, several community members and JE Dunn Construction employees gathered for a topping-out ceremony to celebrate the completion of the structural phase of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center building addition. During the ceremony, the final beam was installed at the highest point of the structure, after attendees had the chance to sign it before it was lifted into place.

Tim Ockinga, a vice president at JE Dunn Construction, told the crowd on Wednesday morning that the ceremony was to commemorate the many workers that worked tirelessly over many months.

“We hoist the last beam to commemorate them and their work,” Ockinga said. “We had over 30,000 person hours to get to the point we’re at today … We signed the beam all as a commitment to the building, that we are celebrating this milestone and the milestones that are going to come later on in the project.”

McCabria said he wanted to thank everyone that has worked to get the JLEC to the point it is today.

“I have a bird’s eye view of this project outside of my chamber’s window, and from what I’ve seen everyday, hot or cold, rain or shine, has been a real dedication to detail, to progress, to moving things forward and to managing challenges that I’ve watched occur weather wise or otherwise as the project has unfolded,” McCabria said.

McCabria said in his meetings with JE Dunn, he expressed the need for the courts to be able to continue to operate free from as much distraction as possible, and he said that goal has been met.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

County Commissioner Shannon Reid signs the final beam that was hoisted onto the JLEC addition.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The final beam for the structure of the JLEC addition was placed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Tim Ockinga, a vice president at JE Dunn Construction, speaks at the topping-out ceremony for the JLEC on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

JE Dunn Construction provided lunch to attendees of the topping-out ceremony for the JLEC addition.