Franklin County Government Center Facts for Kids

The Franklin County Government Center

The Franklin County Government Center is a group of buildings in Columbus, Ohio. It's where the government of Franklin County, Ohio does its work. Think of it as a central hub for many important county offices. Over the years, this center has included different buildings that served as the Franklin County Courthouse. For example, there was a courthouse built in 1840, and another one finished in 1887. Today, the courthouse's jobs are spread across several buildings within this big complex.

History of the Government Center
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History of the Government Center

The Franklin County Government Center has a long history. It has been the home of the county's main courthouse for many years. The current main courthouse is the third one to serve Franklin County.

Key Buildings in the Complex

The tallest building here is the Franklin County Courthouse at 373 South High Street. It stands 27 floors high and is about 464-foot (141 m) tall. This makes it the seventh tallest building in Columbus. This courthouse is where most of the county government agencies are located. It was designed by a company called DesignGroup, Inc.

Other important buildings in the complex include:

The Municipal Court at 375 South High Street, which has 19 floors.
The Hall of Justice at 369 South High Street, which has 10 floors.

Both of these buildings were designed by Prindle & Patrick. A newer building, the Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse, was finished in 2010. It has seven floors and is located at 345 South High Street. In 2013, the Hall of Justice started a two-year renovation project.

Other Facilities at the Center

Besides the main courthouses, the complex also includes several other important facilities:

Dorrian Commons Park: A nice park where people can relax.
Pavilion at 365 S. High Street: A covered area for events.
James A. Karnes Building: This building at 410 S. High Street houses the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
Franklin County Correctional Center I: Located at 370 S. Front Street.
Juvenile Detention Center/Parking Garage: Found at 399 S. Front Street.
34 E. Fulton Street Parking Garage: A place to park cars.
80 E. Fulton Street Service Building: Another commercial building.

Art and Statues in the Area

The Government Center also features some interesting art. A large sculpture by Henry Moore called Oval with Points was moved in 2014. It used to be in Dorrian Commons Park. Now it's on the plaza of the Hall of Justice. Also, a statue of Benjamin Franklin from 1974 was moved. It went from the plaza into an inside lobby of the courthouse.