By JIM BUTLER

An architectural firm has been chosen for design of the 56-bed regional juvenile detention facility at Renaissance.

The board of the eight-parish detention district has formalized the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the state Office of Facility Planning and Control for the $38 million project and this month settled on a design group.

Grace Hebert Curtis, which has offices in five Louisiana cities as well as 16 locations in Texas and Florida, was selected, assuming no state objections. Design experience with detention facilities is listed as a key factor.

The Renaissance district was chosen earlier this year for funding in the initial competitive round for detention facilities expansion funds, particularly for housing 17-year-olds either awaiting case disposition or convicted.

Rapides, Grant, Avoyelles, LaSalle, Vernon, Winn, Catahoula and Concordia Parishes comprise the district.

Rapides, through an existing property tax, will provide about $2.2 million of the $2.67 million in initial estimated operating costs from the parishes.

The Office of Juvenile Justice will provide $1.55 million in guaranteed daily bed rate compensation for holding 17 of the 56 beds in reserve for state-assigned offenders.

The facility will be at the current Renaissance property, Vandenburg Drive & Bayou Rapides Road.