DES MOINES, IA — The OPN Architects-designed Polk County Historic Courthouse and Marion Fire Station 1 projects have been honored by the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) with a 2023 Justice Facilities Review Award.

The Justice Facilities Review documents best practices in planning and design for justice architecture. The winners demonstrate quality of form, functionality, and architectural response to six essential elements of justice facility design: functionality, security and safety, technology and accessibility, community impact, sustainability and economic feasibility (first cost and long-term cost of ownership), and aesthetic achievements.

The restoration of the Polk County Historic Courthouse is the final phase of a multi-year reorganization of the Polk County Courts campus in downtown Des Moines. Facing overcrowding and aging facilities, the county considered relocating its court functions to the suburbs. Instead of decommissioning the historic courthouse, the multi-phase Fifth Judicial District Master Plan formed a new cohesive courts campus downtown by re-using two existing buildings to create a new Polk County Justice Center (2016) and new Polk County Criminal Courts (2019) adjacent to the original 1906 historic courthouse. Use of Indiana limestone, glass curtainwalls, and zinc cladding at exteriors unify the urban courts campus.

The restoration of the Historic Polk County Courthouse accommodates the functional needs of the Fifth Judicial District while also preserving the defining characteristics of the 1906 Beaux Arts Classical style structure. Over the years, historic elements including ornate plaster ceilings, lobbies, original doors, stairs, millwork, and historic finishes and lighting had been replaced, hidden, or covered up in their entirety. The restoration and preservation of the historic courthouse brings the century old building back to life by uncovering and restoring much of its original details and architecture.

Both the Justice Center and the Criminal Courts buildings were also recognized by the AAJ with a Justice Facilities Review Award.

Challenged by the fire chief to design a station that would be a national benchmark for how biophilic design can reduce PTSD in fire fighters, the design of a the new two-level 21,000-square-foot Marion Fire Station 1 in a rapidly growing community achieved its three primary goals: reduce response times, use biophilic design principles to support fire fighters' mental well-being, and establish a strong and transparent civic presence. The new fire station is the third for the city of Marion, Iowa, population 41,535. The building, which also serves as the fire department’s headquarters, is the city’s first new station since 1991, when it was less than half the size it is today. Its location on the city’s northern edge was selected to ensure that the department continues to meet the national response time standards as the city grows over the next decade.

The focus on well-being pushed the building to be highly transparent in areas that have historically been designed with limited access to views and natural daylight in fire stations. Biophilic elements, including natural materials, daylight, views, access to the outdoors, and circadian rhythm-based lighting, are having an effect on the firefighters’ wellbeing, including stress reduction and increased awareness and cognitive ability. Shou sugi ban wood, charred using controlled fire, wraps the living and office spaces. Shou sugi ban is a technique that dates back to 18th-century Japan. The ancient process paradoxically makes the wood fire resistant.

Marion Fire Station 1 is only the second fire station to be honored by with a Justice Facilities Review Award. The first was another OPN-designed project, Madison Fire 14.