Riverside County's New Law Building Reaches 'Topping Out' Milestone

A topping-out ceremony was held Wednesday for the County Law Building in Indio.

The three-story, 90,000-square-foot building at Highway 111 and Jackson Street -- one of several to be constructed to support Riverside County's public safety apparatus -- will house a law library and personnel from the district attorney's and public defender's offices.

The county expects to occupy the building by next April, according to Supervisor John Benoit's office.

The topping-out ceremony began at 11:30 a.m., when workers and dignitaries signed a steel beam that was hoisted to the roof to mark the building's highest point.

Benoit said the building is going up ahead of schedule and will feature carport solar panels to generate electricity, drought-resistant landscaping, electric charging stations and energy and water-saving features. Recycled building materials are being used, according to Benoit's office.

A 5,000-square-foot building will be built nearby to house a restaurant.

The County Administrative Center that housed the county law offices and other departments on Highway 111 and Oasis Street is being demolished to make way for the $350 million East County Detention Center, which will increase the number of inmate beds.

Other future facilities include the East County Emergency Operations Center on Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Oasis, and a three-level, 1,000 vehicle capacity parking structure for use by government employees and the general public at Plaza Avenue and Oasis.

– City News Service.