County Commission greenlights buildout of fourth floor at courthouse

The Marion County Courthouse is shown in this file photo. On Tuesday, the Marion County Commission approved a plan to buildout the empty fourth floor of the building for use as offices and a courtroom. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The Marion County Courthouse is shown in this file photo. On Tuesday, the Marion County Commission approved a plan to buildout the empty fourth floor of the building for use as offices and a courtroom. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The Marion County Commission approved the buildout of the fourth floor of the Marion County Judicial Center Tuesday morning.

The commission approved a contract for $229,000 to complete the buildout of the fourth floor. Ocala-based Rispoli & Associates will be tasked with the buildout.

After the courthouse was expanded in 2010, the third and fourth floors were intentionally left empty to make room for future growth. The fifth floor was dedicated to the State Attorney’s Office.

Now, the fourth floor will be split between the court and the state attorney.

According to Alex AuBuchon, the County Commission’s public information officer, the plan is to dedicate 14,162 square feet to the state attorney for office space, high-density storage, conference rooms and restrooms. Another 10,639 square feet will be used for a sixteen-juror courtroom, jury deliberation area, secure corridors, restrooms and holding areas.

“This proposed renovation is intended to accommodate the need for additional courtroom space and additional capacity for the state attorney,” AuBuchon wrote in an email.