Macon County Justice Center – Lafayette, TN

Cope Architecture was hired to perform a facility analysis and aid the Sheriff’s office in defining and determining the most cost-effective project(s) to help Macon County offset inmate population growth in the male, female, mental health and medical inmates, as well as the work release program. In late December 2019, Macon County approved the scope of the project for renovations and additions including court clerk expansion, jail/detention housing with 200 additional beds and Sheriffs’ office support space. Due to the tight confines of the existing site and property, the intake and booking area need to be renovated to account for the larger future population. A new sallyport was designed and booking and intake areas will be renovated to accommodate new procedures and technology. The kitchen and laundry areas will also be renovated. A new area to house the work release inmates (male/female) was also designed along with a new medical area including medical isolation cells to segregate Covid-19 and other illnesses to better protect the vulnerable inmate population as well as staff members. Cope Architecture provided assistance to the County Government to secure low interest USDA financing for the overall project.