Shovels hit dirt in October 2019 as officials marked a groundbreaking on the new state-of-the-art Plantation Key Courthouse and Detention facility at MM 88.8, bayside. A year later, the structure’s shell is up and enclosed. A topping ceremony on Oct. 23 celebrated the completion of the roof structure. Builders from Biltmore and county project managers provided a tour of the two-story structure that will house the 16th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Monroe County Clerk of the Court, State Attorney’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Monroe County Public Works. The building will feature an entryway with a waterfall in the main lobby for those coming in to get married. Three courtrooms are located on the second floor as well as the clerk’s office. A holding center and jail cells make up the sheriff’s offices portion of the building. The project’s 48,420 square feet was anticipated to take about 30 months to complete. Project managers say it is ahead of schedule, however, and will likely be complete by spring 2022. Costs are around $30 million.
