The McCarthy, Brooks + Scarpa, and HMC Architects team just released their proposal for the Design Excellence/design-build competition for new United States courthouse in Los Angeles. Selected to compete thru the General Services Administration two-stage Design Excellence Program, the team is challenged with the approximately 550,000 sq. ft. high-rise building located at 1st and Hill Street. Aiming to be certified LEED Patinum, the design delivers functional efficiency, security, and accessibility for the Court, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the other tenants and users. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The project is designed to accommodate a future 175,000 sq. ft. federal office building. The proposed 320 foot tall structure will save nearly 2 million gallons of water per year. Inspired by the interweaving of a grand natural arch embedded with a memory of the scales of Lady Justice who represents the allegorical personification of the moral force of our judicial systems, the proposed design symbolizes the strength, dignity and balanced fairness of the Federal Court.
As the visitor approaches they will discover that the acanthus leaf pattern ornaments both the precast and the glazing creating a connection to the iconic Corinthian columns at the entry to the U.S. Supreme Court – are interpretation in modern materials that connects to the best traditions of American justice.
The design-build team’s collaborative effort resulted in a project that exceeds the GSA’s sustainability and energy conservation goals with proven, durable, low-maintenance strategies to deliver a LEED Platinum Courthouse.
Architects: Brooks + Scarpa and HMC Architects; Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA and Kate Diamond, FAIA, Co-Lead Designers Location: Los Angeles, California, United States General Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; John McRitchie: Principal-In-Charge, McCarthy Landscape: The Olin Partnership Civil: Psomas Structural: Thornton Tomasetti Blast: Thornton Tomasetti Curtainwall: Thornton Tomasetti Fire, Life Safety: Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (Fire, Life Safety) MEP: WSP Flack + Kurtz Sustainability: WSP Built Ecology Acoustic/Security: Waveguide Vertical Transportation: The Schachinger Group
