Construction Wraps Up on John Roll Courthouse

Major construction is complete on the John M. Roll United States Courthouse, and the Yuma, Ariz., building is expected to be open for judicial business in mid-December.

Plans for the $25 million, two-courtroom structure were signed off on by Judge Roll shortly before he was shot to death in January 2011, during a gunman’s attack in Tuscon that also severely wounded then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Nineteen people were shot, six fatally.

According to the General Services Administration, which is overseeing construction, some remaining interior construction is expected to be finished by early December.

The two-story, 57,000-square-foot building was named after Judge Roll through legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl (both R-Ariz.). Its distinguishing features include a sandstone exterior drawn from local sources, and a 10,000-square-foot canopy at the building’s façade. In addition to providing shade, the canopy contains solar panels that will generate up to one-fourth of the building’s electricity needs.

Sundt Construction Co., which built the courthouse, said it is seeking LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A dedication ceremony has not yet been scheduled.