The Jefferson County Government Center[2], informally known as "The Taj," is a consolidation of numerous governmental departments for Jefferson County, CO. Located in Golden, Colorado, the 531,000-square-foot (49,300 m2) facility is timeless and the entire complex affords expansion capabilities for the next 20 years. The judicial wing of the structure comprises 304,000 square feet (28,200 m2), while the administrative wing, joined by the central lobby atrium, utilizes the remaining 227,000 square feet (21,100 m2). Concealed either underground or by artful landscaping, the government center’s two-story parking structure holds 1,400 vehicles and serves both wings. In addition, a new 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) underground tunnel and central holding facility connects the judicial building to a pre-existing detention center.
Design
Designed by Fentress Architects, the master plan for the 180-acre (0.73 km2) campus was designed to give the quickly growing rural and suburban county west of Denver a seat of government that re-established its former prominence as the heart of the county. The overall goal was to develop a design to make government functions run more efficiently, while creating a structure that is responsive to the needs of its citizens.
The Jefferson County Judicial and Administrative Facility overlooks the Human Services Building, a jail and numerous support facilities. The exterior features two-toned precast that blends with the nearby Rocky Mountain foothills while the interior contains warm, natural cherry wood, terrazzo flooring and brass accents that harkens back to traditional civic architecture.