Maricopa County High-Rise Court Tower, Phoenix, AZ

As one of the nation’s fastest growing areas in the nation, Maricopa County embarked on expanding their existing complex by adding a state-of-the-art high-rise court tower to support the increase in criminal justice proceedings.

Syska Hennessy Group successfully developed the high-performance design solutions to support the new 100-year building, completed in December 2012.

The court tower required systems capable of supporting high-tech security and office equipment, while being able to support future changes to complete the master plan and expansions. To save time and increase design accuracy, Syska contributed to the development of a 3D model in an integrated BIM environment using Revit MEP. We used this architectural geometric model to design the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; airflow, temperature and pressure simulations (CFD modeling); and conduct energy analysis.

Syska utilized CFD modeling to evaluate end-user thermal comfort within all areas of the courtroom and ensure a consistent temperature gradient throughout the entire space. The Sallyport was also modeled to evaluate airflow to ensure effective collection and removal of vehicle exhaust.