Event Photos: County breaks ground on new Family Justice Center

General Press Release

June 9, 2022


Let the construction begin

"Let the construction begin." Those were the words from 20th Circuit Court Chief Judge John Van Allsburg today as Ottawa County officials broke ground on the new Family Justice Center.

The new 56,000-square-foot facility will bring all of the departments of the 20th Circuit Court's Family Division under one roof on the Fillmore Street Campus. This includes Juvenile Court, Friend of the Court and other related offices to provide coordinated and centralized services to residents. The new center in West Olive will be constructed on property purchased decades ago by prudent leaders with the forethought to recognize future growth and expansion at the centrally located campus.

Link to more event photos


Judge Van Allsburg

20th Circuit Court Chief Judge John Van Allsburg

Facilities studies dating as far back as 2006 had identified inadequacies in the court facilities in West Olive including insufficient courtroom space and acoustics; lack of privacy for clients and attorneys; no separate waiting spaces for victims or witnesses; lack of ADA compliant restrooms; and other shortcomings.

Ottawa County Ground Breaking Commissioners

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners left to right: Al Dannenberg, Frank Garcia, Matt Fenske, Phil Kuyers, Roger Bergman, Jim Baumann, Jim Holtvluwer, Greg DeJong

Ottawa County awarded the project as an Integrated Project Delivery agreement with Granger Construction, DLZ Michigan, Steel Supply & Engineering, Allied Mechanical Systems, Buist Electric and Accurate Controls. Including designers, contractors and key subcontractors in early project planning is intended to keep costs on target, incentivize savings and result in a well-designed and thoughtfully-constructed facility.

The anticipated completion date of the new Family Justice Center is Spring 2024.

Family Justice Center Updated

Architect Rendering