When Wisconsin Courts assigned an additional judge to Sawyer County Courthouse, the county needed another courtroom to accommodate them. To address this, Venture Architects was hired to conduct a study and conceptual design for the courthouse.
One key focus of the project was to improve prisoner transportation. The study recommended connecting the courthouse and jail through a new addition. Previously, detainees had to be escorted outside and across the street to transition between the two buildings. To achieve this connection, Sawyer County worked with the City of Hayward to close down East 5th Street. Additionally, the new courtroom was strategically positioned to reduce public foot traffic and create separation between inmates, staff, and the public.
The existing jail was primarily wood and stone with a shingled roof. We upgraded it with longer-lasting fiber cement siding and other durable materials that provide the County with greater value on their investment, without sacrificing the design’s aesthetics.
