New “jail without bars” is the second building completed within the Denver Justice Center Campus
(Denver, April 14, 2010)… Mayor John Hickenlooper, Governor Bill Ritter and other dignitaries dedicated and cut the ribbon this morning to open the new Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center. This celebration marks the completion of the second phase of the Denver Justice Center 2005 Bond Project. The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center, which will eventually house 1,500 inmates, was delivered on time and on budget at $159 million.
The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center was named after Philip Van Cise who served as
Denver District Attorney from 1921-1925. He successfully prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan and the Blonger gang during his stint as DA. John L. Simonet was the Director of Corrections and Undersheriff from 1981-1983 and again from 1985-2000. He believed strongly in giving inmates skills to succeed after serving jail time. "The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center is a magnificent building inside and out that was completed on time and on budget, which is an incredible feat for any major construction project.” said Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This is a breathtaking structure that will serve our City well for many generations.”
The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center features state-of-the-art security systems that will provide better work conditions for the Denver Sheriff Department and an improved experience for the public and the inmates, as well. Inmates will now receive medical and dental care in the Detention Center whenever possible, as the building has its own infirmary with x-ray machines, hospital beds and dental equipment. These on-site amenities will result in saved time and resources previously used to transport and care for inmates at an off-site hospital.
"The new Detention Center marks a significant step forward for Denver as it provides a
platform to launch many needed improvements in the Denver corrections system overall," said Director of Corrections and Undersheriff Bill Lovingier. "The creation of this facility was critical to the Denver Sheriff Department, as it will enable us to efficiently serve the people of Denver and operate the jails in a safe, humane and secure environment."
The building also has an unexpected public art feature, thanks to Denver’s “1% For The Arts”
program. The public art program was established in 1988 and requires capital improvement projects totaling over one million dollars to dedicate 1% of their funding for public art. Garrison Roots, Professor and Chair for the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado Boulder, created an epoxy resin terrazzo art floor for the public lobby in the building. His piece, titled Acumen, features images from nature that are rich in color and provide a sense of peace for the lobby of the building. “Creating the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center truly took a village: The teams at JACOBS Engineering and Hensel Phelps Construction, along with the visionaries at OZ Architecture, Hartman-Cox Architects and Ricci-Greene Associates all worked overtime to deliver a facility that Denver can hold in high regard,” said Manager of Public Works and Deputy Mayor Guillermo “Bill” Vidal. “Together, we delivered a bold structure that embodies the spirit and the strength of our justice system.”
The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center was constructed with sustainability in mind. The Rocky Mountain News building, which occupied the land purchased from the Denver Newspaper Agency by the City during the Webb administration, was de-constructed rather than demolished so that the majority of the materials could be recycled. Also, materials were purchased from distributors within 500 miles of the work site to reduce pollution associated with shipping whenever possible, and the lighting in the facility is especially efficient with the 173 exterior windows providing natural light.
The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center was constructed with the goal of achieving a LEED Silver certification, which is currently pending. The Post Office/Parking Garage, also located in the new Denver Justice Center Complex, received a final SILVER LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, rating from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center By The Numbers:
1,500 inmate capacity
5 floors
2 courtrooms
369 cells
28 exercise areas
210 showers
559 toilets
1,500 beds
32 visitation rooms
200 foot tunnel
6 washing machines
6 dryers
0 bars