South Dakota 1500-Bed Prison Project

Planned

Elevatus Architecture, an Indiana architectural company with experience in building prisons, has expressed concerns about the estimated cost of South Dakota's proposed 1500-bed prison project. They suggest the current estimated cost of $825 million exceeds national benchmarks and propose that a similar project could be delivered for around $525 million. The firm highlights its experience designing over 200 justice facilities nationwide, including a new prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, which broke ground two years ago and is expected to finish next year. The project is under review by a South Dakota prison task force, with discussions ongoing about cost metrics and viable options.