Hendrick Construction Completes South Carolina Jail

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hendrick Construction completed a $5.7 million expansion of the R. Eugene Johnson Detention Center in Laurens County, S.C.

The 20,000-square-foot expansion features eight housing units on two floors, adding room for up to 128 more inmates. The new space is flexible, allowing corrections officers to easily sort inmates based on gender and alleged crime.

"Without this design, the sheriff's office would need larger housing units with more beds to accommodate the broad inmate population," said Dennis Ashley of DA Architects, LLC, the project's architect.

The smaller housing units each can hold up to 16 inmates give the detention center greater flexibility than a more traditional layout of two 64-bed dorms. Additionally, the layout is more cost-effective for Laurens County.

"The expansion was needed to alleviate periodic overcrowding, and it provides a safer and more secure facility for our officers and staff," said Laurens County Director of Public Works Scott Holland. "It's safer for the inmates as well."

The units were built with precast concrete in a semi-circle around a main control room. The control room is located between the two floors, allowing corrections officers to see into each dorm. State-of-the-art electronic equipment in the control room also allows guards to monitor cameras throughout the jail.

The project included upgrades to the security system as well as a new video conferencing system that allows inmates to speak with visitors and court officials without leaving the dorm area. In addition to the expansion, Hendrick is remodeling the existing jail space to add medical facilities, an administrative area and a visitor center.

"We're proud to build this much-needed expansion for Laurens County," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. "They now have a more secure detention center with flexible space to help them deal with overcrowding issues."

Hendrick Construction, Inc. is a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor that provides commercial construction services throughout the Southeast. The company's portfolio includes facilities for corporate headquarters, manufacturing, industrial, health care and bio-tech companies, as well as schools, government buildings, entertainment venues and restaurants. Visit http://www.hendrickconstruction.com.

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Hendrick Construction Completes South Carolina Jail