The Morris County Board of County Commissioners officially decided in 2023 to proceed with an updated exterior design for the highly anticipated new Morris County Courthouse. This state-of-the-art facility will be located on a county-owned parcel at Schuyler Place in Morristown, New Jersey.
The updated design, crafted by the renowned architectural firm AECOM, follows a thorough review. Following a June 14, 2023, Commissioner work session, where key design changes were suggested, AECOM representatives Roger Lichtman, Lisa Tsang, and Francis Cooke presented the updated proposal. The Courthouse Committee, comprising Commissioner Stephen Shaw, Commissioner Deborah Smith, and Commissioner Douglas Cabana, approved the updated design.
Commissioner Insights on the Courthouse Design
“This final design is the result of collaboration and input from all stakeholders on this project. We value AECOM’s approach in working with the county to ensure we landed on an exterior design that is timeless in terms of function and aesthetics,” said Commissioner Stephen Shaw, Chairman of the Courthouse Committee.
Features of the New Morris County Courthouse
The updated Morris County Courthouse design involves a 119,000-square-foot facility, which will include:
- Eight modern courtrooms
- A jury assembly room
- Dedicated meeting rooms
- Enhanced security areas
- A striking, secured three-story glass entrance foyer
This scaled-back project, compared to its pre-COVID-19 proposal, will address the critical safety, security, and space needs of the county’s criminal Superior Court operations. The new eight-story courthouse will be constructed on a county parking lot adjacent to the Morris County Administration & Records Building.
Background and Historical Context
A 2017 Space Needs and Facilities Assessment commissioned by Morris County first highlighted the need for a new courthouse. The subsequent 2018 report revealed significant deficiencies in the county’s existing court facilities, which include the historic courthouse complex along Washington Street.
Built in 1827, the historic courthouse underwent three expansions before 1900, with additional updates in the 1950s and 1970s. While it will be preserved, the historic building is no longer suitable for most modern court operations.
In late 2018, the Commissioners, then known as Freeholders, held public hearings before unanimously adopting two capital ordinances to fund the initial design phases. Throughout the process, the Commissioners worked to balance the court system’s needs with fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.
Stakeholder Support and Attendance
The recent meeting to approve the updated design was attended by several key stakeholders, including:
- Sheriff James Gannon
- Prosecutor Robert Carroll
- Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz (Morris/Sussex Court Vicinage)
- Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty
- Morristown Business Administrator Jillian Barrick
The Commissioners’ 2023 approval of the updated Morris County Courthouse design marks a significant milestone in modernizing the county’s judicial infrastructure.
