Columbus mayor talks new Judicial Center and future of Government Center
A change is coming to the Columbus skyline as the new Judicial Center nears completion, with the current Government Center to be demolished.
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson told the Ledger-Enquirer the Judicial Center should be ready for some of its first occupants around August or September. The moving in of different groups to the new building will be done in phases, according to Henderson.
“They’ll take their time because the sheriff’s going to want to make sure that he’s got adequate safety in place before the courts and the judges move over,” Henderson said.
Henderson gave an estimated timeline of the “first part” of 2027 for when the courts would move to the new building.
Following the move of workers to the Judicial Center, the Government Center will be demolished, according to Henderson.
“Part of this space where it’s sitting is going to be needed for surface parking to be able to satisfy the parking needs for everybody over there,” he said.
Henderson said probably sometime in mid 2027 “piecemeal demolition” on parts of the inside of the old building will occur.
“Then eventually, I think at least right now, they’re planning on imploding it,” he said.
Henderson said an approximate timeframe for the possible implosion of the Government Center is the middle of 2027.
The changing skyline of Columbus
The Government Center has been part of the Columbus skyline since the early 1970s after construction began in 1970, according to Historic Columbus.
The Government Center is the fourth courthouse in the city and the third courthouse in its current location on the block surrounded by First and Second Avenues and Ninth and 10th Streets, according to Historic Columbus.
“It was sort of iconic for the time period that it was built,” Henderson said.
Henderson said people have indicated to him that they hate to see the Government Center go. However, Henderson said he feels Columbus has the opportunity “reshape that skyline a little bit smaller” and make it fit in with the Springer Opera House and the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.
“I think once it’s all completed, people will really appreciate the change,” Henderson said.
Henderson said he thinks one of the hardest things a community does is to blend old with new and move forward with progress but to also salvage what you can.
“It’s bittersweet to see this go, but I think we’re still going to salvage the wings that were a part of it,” Henderson said. “So, there’ll still be some historic pieces to it as the city moves forward.”
Name of new Judicial Center
The Columbus Council unanimously voted in March 2025 to name the new Judicial Center for the late Superior Court Judge John D. Allen.
Allen retired as chief judge in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit in 2013. He was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2020 after being a pilot who flew 284 combat missions over hostile enemy zones in the Vietnam War.
Allen was awarded six Distinguished Flying Crosses and 23 Air Medals.
Allen attended law school at the University of Florida and formed the first integrated law firm in Columbus during the 1970s with Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters.
“It (the new Judicial Center) could not be named after a more perfect individual,” Henderson said. “He’s just a man that was all class, excellent judge and his name on that building is a perfect end to that construction process.”
Director talks about project
Ryan Pruett, director of the Building Inspections and Code Enforcement Department for the Columbus Consolidated Government, told the Ledger-Enquirer there are no definitive dates for when people will move into the new building, when demolition of the old building will begin or when the implosion will take place.
“We are anticipating occupants to begin moving this fall,” Pruett said in an email. “As soon as occupants begin moving into the new building, we will start interior demolition of the existing Tower.”
Pruett said he anticipates demolition to be complete in 2027, with the implosion happening in summer 2027 at the earliest.
“Any hazardous materials remaining in the Tower will be abated in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws as part of the demolition process,” Pruett said.