New Hampshire Juvenile Facility Nears Completion

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Final site work is under way for a $29.2 million detention center designed to hold state youth offenders.

North Bay Construction Inc. managed construction of the 108,000-square-foot facility, where work started in 2004. The center, designed by Lavallee/Brensinger PA, contains four residential clusters that house 36 residents each. The residential clusters are composed of three levels with secured blocks of 12 rooms per level. Each level shares a common living area, kitchenette, two bathrooms and a counselor’s office. The facility is a self-contained, secure campus and is designed to resemble other buildings in the residential neighborhood.

The facility also includes several outdoor recreation areas and basketball courts between buildings. Resident rooms have masonry walls and epoxy flooring for maintenance and durability. The center’s admissions building houses the admissions office, a holding area, and a shower and laundry. A doctor, dentist, nursing staff, exam rooms and patient rooms for overnight stay are on-site. An industrial arts area offers a complete carpentry workshop, a classroom and an auto shop. The facility has a complete commercial kitchen for culinary arts courses, a cafeteria and a separate staff-operated kitchen. The facility is supported by generated power in case of power outages.

The four-phase construction project also includes renovation of existing buildings. North Branch remodeled the recreation building, which houses an indoor pool, gymnasium and chapel. Starting in February 2006, completed buildings were turned over to the owners.