Provo’s Fourth District Courthouse is being called the “crown jewel of courthouses in Utah” and features 16 state of the art courtrooms. Opened in January 2019, the eight-story courthouse will now be home to the Provo and Orem juvenile courts, along with Provo’s 4th District Court. The new and improved courthouse has created a more consolidated judicial experience and a safer space for all to gather. This project was awarded the “Most Outstanding Project of 2018” for Utah Construction & Design and will stand for years to come.
Ensign was approached to provide cladding and specialty structural engineer services to the Provo Courthouse Project. Ensign introduced an innovative GFRC cladding system, saving the project approximately $800,000 according to UC&D. Ensign worked alongside project partners and the client to invent an ultra-thin GFRC frame system. Creating a simple look that would be as strong as the end result.
Where typical GFRC frames are 12” deep or deeper and require structural steel support systems, Ensign’s innovative system was only 2-1/2” deep and was light enough to be attached directly to the envelope’s insulation z-girt system. Combine that with the system’s engineered and tested lateral drift features and beautiful granite finish and this project was truly deserving of the UC&D best project of the year award.