Athens Seeks Public Input on $225 Million Judicial Center Design
Athens-Clarke County is seeking public input on the design of a proposed $225 million Judicial Center planned for 120 W. Dougherty Street in downtown Athens.
The county announced the public-comment period July 22, 2026. Residents can comment on the building’s exterior appearance, interior public gathering spaces and the design principles that should guide the project. Comments are due Sunday, Aug. 9.
The project is still in the planning and design stage. The county estimates that the building would contain approximately 218,215 square feet, making it a major public facility and one of the county’s largest planned capital investments.
What residents are being asked to review
The online comment form focuses on how the Judicial Center should look and function in the areas residents and other members of the public will encounter. Questions address the exterior design, interior gathering spaces and broader principles that could shape the facility.
That means the current opportunity is focused on design direction rather than a final building plan. Public feedback can address the appearance of a prominent downtown civic building as well as the character of spaces intended for public use.
The county held a public meeting at the project site on June 30, 2026. Athens-Clarke County also said additional engagement opportunities are planned as the project moves through planning and design.
A long-term downtown project
The proposed Judicial Center would occupy a visible site at 120 W. Dougherty Street. Its size, public purpose and downtown location mean decisions made during the design period will shape an important civic property for years to come.
The county describes the facility as a major public investment intended to replace or consolidate judicial functions in downtown Athens. The estimated budget is $225 million, although the project remains a proposal and the design work is not complete.
For residents, the immediate question is how the building should fit into downtown Athens and how its public-facing spaces should work. The comment process gives the community a formal way to weigh in before planning and design are finished.
Tentative construction schedule
Athens-Clarke County’s current schedule calls for planning and design to continue for approximately 18 months. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin by early 2028, with completion targeted for early 2030.
Those dates are targets, not final deadlines. The county notice does not identify a final architectural design or a final construction contract, and the project’s schedule remains subject to the continuing planning and design process.
The county’s Capital Projects Department is handling the project. The next known steps are continued planning, design work and additional public engagement after the initial comment period.
Residents who want to influence the design direction must submit comments by Aug. 9. The feedback will come before the county reaches the later stages reflected in the tentative construction schedule, including a planned start by early 2028 and targeted completion by early 2030.
Sources
- ACCGov Seeks Input on Judicial Center Design through August 9, Athens-Clarke County
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