Heery International vice president Robert York points out that the new project, now under way on West Santa Ana Boulevard, is the first California courthouse to be delivered using a construction management arrangement known as "CM at risk." Under the CM at risk model, the customer can choose the construction firm on the basis of qualifications rather than low bid.

York explains that the CM at risk method has been used for years in the private sector and "is slowly becoming popular for public projects where construction managers can be chosen based on qualifications, rather than low bids." Besides being the first courthouse built under the CM at risk arrangement, the new Santa Ana building is the first new construction project to be handled by the recently created administrative office of the courts.

The new building will house one courtroom, judges' chambers and administrative offices. The court of appeal previously leased space in two locations, which were separated by more than a mile.