“Construction of the $53 million, 1,000-bed addition to the Pierce County jail begins today. A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction at the project site.The site is located immediately west of the existing jail between Nollmeyer Lane and South Ninth Street.A contract for demolishing the former county-city parking garage and related work has been awarded to Wagner Development Inc., of University Place. Demolition work will continue through June, with the construction project slated to start in July.The jail project is to provide beds and dayroom space for up to 1,000 inmates in 12 dormitory housing units. The new building will include a vehicle sallyport for use by arresting officers; intake, booking and release areas; and property storage, food services preparation, laundry services, and storage areas.The space beneath the existing jail will be enclosed to provide for staff dining, locker room, storage and maintenance, mechanical and electrical areas.The new jail will include a combined central control room designed for ensuring secure movement throughout the new and existing facilities.After the project is completed in August, 2002, portions of the existing jail are scheduled to be renovated. Medical and mental health space will be expanded, and space for video arraignment, disciplinary isolation cells and administrative areas will be added. Renovation work is scheduled for a spring 2003 completion date.The project is being constructed by the Absher Kitchell joint venture, which was selected as the County’s general contractor-construction manager in 1998. The Absher Kitchell management team is headed by Greg Helle and includes Gary Beaver and Don Blair.Absher Kitchell is working with the design team of McGranahan Architects of Tacoma and Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum of San Francisco. Marc Gleason heads the McGranahan/HOK team, assisted by Chuck Oraftik and Chris Lilley.The construction project is managed and administered by Pierce County Facilities Management. Director Dan Cagle, project manager Scott Hogman, and site coordinator Steven Burke represent Pierce County for the project.”