New Plant City courthouse to be energy, water efficient

The company that is replacing the courthouse in Plant City says the 60,000 square-foot building will be environmentally friendly and incorporate recycled materials.

The two-story building under construction by Kraft Construction Co. will feature water and energy efficiency. Kraft Construction is building the new courthouse on Michigan Avenue, directly across from the current courthouse, parts of which date back to the 1950s.

The building is slated for completion during the third quarter of 2011. The facility is intended to accommodate the courts of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and related support functions such as the sheriff's office, public defender, state attorney and Clerk of the Circuit Court.

The project is being developed to meet the criteria for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, which Kraft said is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Senior Project Manager Bart Amey and Senior Superintendent Joe Carchidi are working to maximize the use of recycled content and regionally available materials. For example, stone for the building's foundations is being purchased from a regional supplier, and the asphalt from the parking lot at the site will be reclaimed.

City and Hillsborough County officials have long wanted a new courthouse to replace the 40,000 square-foot building at 302 W. Michigan Ave.

Naples-based Kraft Construction, which has offices statewide, has been in operation for more than 40 years.

The general contractor and construction management firm specializes in commercial, government, educational, medical, hospitality and mixed-use construction. Kraft is part of the Manhattan Construction Group of companies. Major projects in recent years include a $33 million parking garage at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, $53.1 million Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Cape Coral and a spring training facility for the Boston Red Sox in Lee County.

For information, go to www.KraftConstruction.com.