The Riverside County Law Building in Indio, California has become the new home to the county’s district attorney, public defender, and county counsel offices since its completion in December 2014.
Completed four months ahead of schedule and $4.2 million under budget, the project was celebrated with a grand opening event at Highway 111 and Jackson Street. It is just one piece of the expanded criminal justice complex for the region, including an East County Detention Center. The savings were returned to the county, which will use them for rent abatement and the improvements of other facilities.
“I am thankful for the cooperation of the city of Indio,” said John J. Benoit, Riverside County’s supervisor of the Fourth District. “This will bring benefits in economic development in the eastern part of the valley.”
This LEED platinum certified, three-story law building was built with a solar panel-covered parking lot that will generate about 25% of the building’s electricity. The building also features drought-resistant landscaping (crucial for the desert region), and high-efficiency plumbing.
“As one of the most efficient buildings in our inventory, the County Law Building leaves a smaller footprint on our environment by using energy and water more efficiently, while also generating significant savings on operations,” said Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit. “I am very proud that this hugely successful project earned this prestigious rating, distinguishing it as a prototype of sustainability in our state.”
A partnership between the county and Grow America led to the creation of a not-for-profit affiliate to manage the project. The team also included Trammel Crow Company, Langdon Wilson International, and Millie and Severson companies. Grow America was able to provide the project with tax-exempt 63-20 bonds that helped to finance the $38.6 million cost of the project.
The building is currently managed by a private management firm and leased to the county for a term of 30 years. After that, ownership of the building will pass back to the county. And it is already serving as a great boon to the community.
I want the Latino community to understand that the DA’s office is here to help. We want to serve. When they are victims of crime I want them to feel comfortable coming in.
Michael Hestrin
District Attorney
“Being here, and I am a Spanish speaker, I grew up bilingual and I think it is very important to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community, being in Riverside County (Hispanics) are the majority and we need to reach into those communities,” said Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin.
Hestrin said the facility, with its state-of-the-art features, helped his team to better work with the people of the surrounding county and east valley.
“They are underserved populations,” said Hestrin, who is half Mexican. “I want the Latino community to understand that the DA’s office is here to help. We want to serve. When they are victims of crime I want them to feel comfortable coming in. We have services for victims and I want people to get a familiarity with them. We have hired a team to reach out in Spanish and I myself want to be in the community meeting the leaders.”
The 90,000 square foot building will surely bring an economic benefit to the region, while also benefiting the environment and the local legal community.
From the ground
