Photos: Linn County christens new public health, child development building

Sarah Harris of Cedar Rapids, surrounded by family and local leaders, uses ceremonial scissors to cut the ribbon at opening ceremonies Friday for the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in southeast Cedar Rapids. Dr. Harris, a longtime Linn County medical examiner, was the first black doctor in Cedar Rapids. He and his wife, Lileah, were the parents of 12 children, all with college degrees, and were civil rights leaders in the city for decades. Linn County supervisors in May 2017 voted to name the building in the Harris' honor. Percy Harris died in 2017 at age 89; Lileah Furgerson Harris died in 2014 at age 83. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The front of the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building is seen just before the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony in Cedar Rapids. The 63,000-square-foot building, built at a cost of $28.1 million, will house the Linn County Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services. Its final cost, with furnishings and change orders, was $31.1 million. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The Harris siblings, joined by local leaders and friends, on Friday tour the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building at 1020 Sixth St. SE, named in honor of their parents. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

A small seating area between two conference rooms is seen on the third-floor of the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in southeast Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Guests, family members and community leaders gather Friday for the ribbon-cutting at a new Linn County building that will house public health and child and youth development services. With the new space, public health will be adding a WIC Clinic, with the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, focusing on food and nutrition education for women, infants and children. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

People gather Friday in the gymnasium of the new Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in Cedar Rapids. The former Linn County Public Health building, at 501 13th NW, is to be renovated into a mental health access center. The nearby Fillmore Center, former home to Child and Youth Development Services, is now an emergency winter shelter for the homeless, with long-term plans to turn it into a permanent winter overflow shelter and day center, with Wi-Fi, a laundry, a secure place for belongings and mailboxes. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The playground is near completion Friday at the new Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in southeast Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

A large conference room is seen at the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Lileah Harris (right) turns to her sister, Sarah Harris, both of Cedar Rapids, and laughs as their brother, Peter Harris, of Tarzana, Calif., speaks about the family during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in southeast Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Peter Harris of Los Angeles speaks about the Harris family and his upbringing during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers smiles as he recalls memories of the Harris family during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the county's new building named in honor of Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker speaks during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new county building named in honor of Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Mark and Sarah Harris stand to shake hands with their brother, Peter, after he spoke on behalf of the Harris family during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Linn County building names in honor of their parents, Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Sarah Harris (center), surrounded by siblings and local leaders, prepares to cut the ribbon opening the new Linn County building named in honor of her parents, Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The back of the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building is shown on Friday, before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Peter Harris, son of Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris, speaks about his family and his upbringing during the Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Public Health and Child and Youth Development Services building in Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)