courthouse brochure

COURTHOUSEEXPERIENCE

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

PLANNING

ENGINEERING

MANAGEMENT

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“ Symbols of prosperity and progress for an ever-growing state, Texas courthouses were once seen by locals as a proud icon of their county’s development. These structures helped to lure settlers and merchants from abroad in hopes of expanding the county’s population, economy and influence… Today many county residents still have a deep felt love and admiration for their courthouses.” – www.texascourthouses.com

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Harris County Civil Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fort Bend County Justice Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Harris County Criminal Justice Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Harris County 1910 Civil Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Collin County District Courts Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Brownsville Federal Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Alto Lee Adams Sr . United States Courthouse . . . . 16

St . Tammany Parish Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

CONTENTS

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HARRIS COUNTY CIVILCOURTS BUILDING

H o u s t o n , T e x a s

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H a r r i s C o u n t y C i v i l C o u r t h o u s e

Owner: Harris County

Construction Cost: $91,000,000

Completion: 2006

Construction Delivery: Design-Bid-Build

Services:

Planning

Programming

Architectural Design

Interior Design

Construction Administration

This 17-story structure, featuring a precast concrete and glass façade and dramatic bronze dome, rotunda and cupola, responded to multiple client goals: Consolidation of civil courtrooms formerly located throughout downtown Houston; creation of a central court system core campus with built-in flexibility for future expansion, and inclusion of updated design to Houston’s nearby historic Civil Courthouse, built in 1910 and since fully restored. These requirements were reflected in a 10-year Harris County Courts Master Plan prepared by PGAL.

The resulting 660,000 SF building houses 37 courtrooms, specialty courtrooms, district and county clerk offices and expansion space for additional courtrooms. Vertical circulation and security were key components with an emphasis on segregating the public from judges and county employees. Design elements include plentiful elevators for low wait times, an escalator between well-traveled floors and private elevators for judges from secure underground judicial parking to private judicial suites.

Downtown views were incorporated into all upper-level lobbies. State of the art technology included jury box monitors at each seat and monitors for judicial benches and the witness stand. Courtroom windows maximize natural light. A cafeteria serves both the public and employees. Responding to local flooding challenges, the building was designed with a series of flood walls and doors near the garage entrance and other below grade areas such as the tunnel system that connects downtown buildings.

To support the successful bond referendum for this project, PGAL provided graphics, exhibits, renderings and a scale model for County use at community meetings.

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Owner: Fort Bend County

Construction Budget: $54,000,000

Completion: 2011

Construction Delivery: CMAR

Services:

Planning

Programming


Interior Design


F o r t B e n d C o u n t y J u s t i c e C e n t e r

The 265,000 SF Justice Center was designed to capture traditional

elements of the classic Texas courthouse while addressing needs of

a growing community. As the centerpiece of Fort Bend County, the

Justice Center consolidates all County Courts District Courts and court

administration office into one facility. It includes 17 courtrooms, jury

assembly area, grand jury area, law library and space for 10 additional

courtrooms when needed.

As prime architect and project manager, PGAL worked closely with

Fort Bend County to develop this neoclassical courthouse utilizing cast

stone and brick veneer detailing, a standing seam metal roof, clock tower

and a dome structure crowning a four-level atrium. Two, four-story wings

flank the five-story 85-foot high domed rotunda where secured entry, all

vertical circulation, and access to all departments occur.

The Justice Center is directly connected to the County Jail and Sheriff’s

Office complex by a secure tunnel located on its lowest level. This tunnel

eliminated the need for external secure transfer of detainees across the

street, saving significant dollars and providing a safer environment for all.

The lower level also includes a holding area for adults and juveniles, with

expansion capacity.

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FORT BEND COUNTYJUSTICE CENTER

R i c h m o n d , T e x a s

PGAL’s performance and professionalism has made it possible to position the new Fort Bend County Justice Center as the centerpiece of our newly developed 40-acre campus...

– Don Brady, Director Facilities Management and Planning

Fort Bend County

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HARRIS COUNTYCRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER


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Completion: 1999


Services:

Master Planning

Programming


Interior Design


H a r r i s C o u n t y C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e C e n t e r

PGAL served as planner, prime architect, interior designer and civil engineer for this award-winning 788,000 SF, 21-story criminal courthouse—the largest County courthouse in the nation.

The stylized contemporary building—postmodern with classical overtones—reflects a landmark master plan prepared by PGAL for Harris County’s court system. It is the focal point of the existing 12-building county complex, accommodating 27 District criminal courtrooms and 16 County criminal courtrooms, each outfitted with interactive, evidence presentation technology and outside video feeds.

Shell space for 12 future courtrooms was provided, as well as District Attorney and District Clerk offices, a ceremonial court, grand jury suite, court administration offices, 800 holding cells for the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and secured parking.

A portion of the ground floor provides special population processing, utilizing an open waiting area. The facility is accessed via secure vehicular sally port and elevated tunnel to the Detention Zone. Secure parking for 85 cars is located underground, with additional surface public parking.

PGAL worked within strict budget constraints with construction bids, coming in under budget, thanks to creative approaches such as specifying 60,000 SF of a preformed suspended ceiling system that reduced installed costs up to 40% over conventional systems. Impressive yet durable interior finishes include terrazzo, granite, marble and wood paneling. Distinguishing exterior features include buff-colored precast concrete panels, notched corners, punched windows, and curtain wall glazing. The $72 million facility includes 90,000 LF of interior walls and required 50,000 cubic yards of concrete—enough to pave a sidewalk from Houston to San Antonio.

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Completion: 2011


Services:

Planning

Programming

Historic Preservation


Interior Design


H a r r i s C o u n t y 1 9 1 0 C o u r t h o u s e R e s t o r a t i o n

The overriding goal of this historic preservation project in Houston, Texas was to reclaim the buildings historic integrity, while updating the entire infrastructure to meet the current local codes—all while producing a comfortable integration with the surrounding existing structures in the 12-building judicial complex.

A major challenge was reversing extensive changes made during a 1954 renovation that damaged, destroyed and removed many historical features in the building. Restoration elements included reopening the

6-story rotunda which had been encased; recreation of massive granite signature entrance steps to recreate original second story entrance; reinstallation of the cupola; restoration of courtrooms to 2-story space with mezzanine galleries; reopening of original upper level double stairways enclosed in 1954 and eliminating a 100-year contaminate build-up.

Also challenging was incorporating modern mechanical and life safety elements into a historic structure where ceilings could not be altered. To enhance fire safety in the now-open rotunda, motorized fire-rated, roll-down shutters were installed, concealed within historically accurate ornamental plasterwork. ADA-compliant ramps were routed beneath the new monumental steps onto street level entrances. To reduce response time, security camera feeds are continually accessible to security staff, judges, attorneys and most office staff.

Completed within budget and ahead of schedule, the energy-efficient, sustainable restored courthouse not only celebrates the city’s past but also demonstrates that preservation and progress can be compatible goals.

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HARRIS COUNTY1910 COURTHOUSE RESTORATION


Before its restoration, the 1910 courthouse was dark and dreary, with ineff icient use of space and outmoded technology. PGAL’s vision, talent, and skill rescued this neglected landmark, recreating its former glory and transforming it into a cutting edge business environment.

– Adele Hedges, Chief Justice, Fourteenth Court of Appeals

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COLLIN COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS FACILITY

M c K i n n e y , T e x a s

PGAL’s delivery throughout all phases of the project has resulted in a facility that is remarkable in character and extremely functional.

– Bill Bilyeu, County Administrator

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Owner: Collin County


Completion: 2007


Services:

Master Planning

Programming


Interior Design


PGAL’s mandate from Collin County Commissioners and Judges was to create a facility with a sense of judicial authority without appearing to be an extravagant use of taxpayer dollars. The resulting energy-efficient, 100-year building does just that.

The neoclassical courthouse has a formal entry colonnade with a glass-enclosed rotunda that allows natural light to filter throughout the main

lobby space. Prisoner holding areas are located in the lower level, which leads to 14 courtrooms via a secure elevator bank. Long and linear in form, the 4-story structure also houses County Clerk, District Attorney and Homeland Security offices, Grand Jury space, hearing rooms, a law library and jury assembly space.

This 300,000 SF building was Phase I of a 6-phase, 25-year Master Plan developed by PGAL to maximize use of a 300-acre site selected to serve as the center for all County judicial facilities. The building was designed to allow expansion to an ultimate build-out of 64 courtrooms and accommodate all the County Court functions. Phase II provided an additional 150,000 SF of space for 10 more courtrooms, enhanced technology in two existing courtrooms and expanded jury assembly, District Attorney and District Clerk spaces.

C o l l i n C o u n t y D i s t r i c t C o u r t s F a c i l i t y

PGAL’s delivery throughout all phases of the project has resulted in a facility that is remarkable in character and extremely functional.

– Bill Bilyeu, County Administrator

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Owner: General Services Administration


Completion: 1999


Services:

Planning

Programming


Interior Design


B r o w n s v i l l e F e d e r a l C o u r t h o u s e

Located at the site of an abandoned rail yard on the edge of Brownsville’s

central business district, this award-winning, widely published Courthouse

was designed by PGAL under the General Services Administration’s (GSA)

Design Excellence in Public Architecture Program. The GSA cited the

198,000 SF Courthouse, built for $120/SF, as “best value” of more than

100 federal courthouses then bidding nationwide. Primary occupants are

the United States District Courts and court-related agencies. At Level 3

security, the building houses its own mission critical command center.

A catalyst for revitalization of an area slated to become Brownsville’s

new civic “gateway,” the Courthouse was the focal point of PGAL’s Master

Plan, which also incorporated a new city hall, park, garage and future

commercial developments to support the civic buildings.

Referencing the unique context of South Texas’ historic missions, the

courthouse features a classical 2-story portico. It utilizes natural light with

an open interior design forming a straightforward arrangement of two

sets of paired courtrooms, a central great hall and monumental stair. A

civic plaza continues this theme of openness with a tree-lined outdoor

extension of the ceremonial court for citizenship ceremonies and other

special occasions.

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BROWNSVILLEFEDERAL COURTHOUSE

B r o w n s v i l l e , T e x a s

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ALTO LEE ADAMS SR.UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

F o r t P i e r c e , F l o r i d a

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Owner: General Services Administration


Completion: 2011

Construction Delivery: CMAR

Services:

Planning

Programming


Interior Design


A l t o L e e A d a m s S r . U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t h o u s e

This striking 5-story Federal Courthouse harmonizes with neighboring

buildings in a historic downtown business district by combining “Old

Florida” Mediterranean Revival architectural references with a careful

attention to scale, preserving a small-town feel while promoting area

revitalization.

LEED Gold Certified, the $42 million General Services Administration

(GSA) Design Excellence project meets 10-year court and court-

related space needs and accommodates 30-year court expansion

requirements. It includes one District and one Magistrate Courtroom,

and was designed to house two additional courtrooms for future build-

outs. The courtrooms are placed on the upper floor where they are

marked by their silhouette. Major tenants also include the United States

Marshall Service, Attorneys and Probation.

Due to a high water table, the courthouse entrance is elevated over

the at-grade secure parking. A 135-foot covered porch comfortably

transitions visitors and staff from the street corner to the main lobby.

An 80- by 300-foot drought-resistant garden separates existing

1- and 2-story buildings from the full height of the courthouse.

Stepped roof lines also helped reduce perceived massing on this very

tight urban site. A 110-foot stretch of window wall frames the building’s

4-story atrium lobby, flooding interiors with natural light and providing

dynamic street views.

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Owner: St. Tammany Parish


Completion: 2003


Services:

Planning

Programming


Interior Design


S t . T a m m a n y P a r i s h C o u r t h o u s e

Located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain just outside New

Orleans, Covington is the site of the new courthouse for St. Tammany

Parish. The St. Tammany Parish Courthouse houses the following:

• 14 Courthrooms

• District Attorney’s Office

• Sheriff’s Office

• Parish Clerk’s Office

The driving concept for PGAL’s design was to maintain the solemnity

and civic presence of the judicial system, while incorporating the

stringent planning and secondary considerations required by the

facility’s mix of uses. Because the new complex includes governmental

offices in addition to the parish courthouse, one challenge PGAL faced

was to provide the security required in a court facility and yet allow

for public access to those functions not requiring this higher level of

security. We resolved the issue by segregating non-secure functions

on the first floor and controlling access to all vertical circulation behind

two secure access points.

• Indigent Defenders’ Office

• Tax Assessor’s Office

• Several other Parish Departments

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ST. TAMMANY PARISH COURTHOUSE

C o v i n g t o n , L o u i s i a n a

3131 Briarpark, Suite 200Houston, Texas 77042713 .622 .1444www .pgal .com

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