Architect Joe Sam Queen has resigned as a consultant with justice center designers HLM Architects because he disagrees with advice given to the county, he said Monday.

“It is not in my financial interest to do this, but it is in the community interest,” said Queen.

According to Queen, HLM architects were wrong when they told county commissioners they could not build a three-story justice center at less cost than a four-story building.

“I am convinced that a three-story building is less expensive than a four-story, but for some reason my team does not want me to share that with the client,” said Queen.

According to Queen’s calculations, a “modest re-assessing” of the Geisler space needs study could save at least $10 million in building costs and $500,000 in architect’s fees.

In addition to building a three-story justice center downtown with five courtrooms, Queen recommends using the annex at the back of historic courthouse to house the sheriff’s department instead of putting it at the site of the new jail. Queen designed the satellite jail now in use, and he suggested using that facility with new jail space to accommodate 192 inmates. He also recommends building a 300-space parking deck.

Queen also said a three-story courthouse plan could mend the widening rift between county and town officials over the courthouse project. According to Queen, architects have designed and built a scale model of a three-story justice center that commissioners have not shared with the public.

 

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