PROJECT Montgomery County Circuit Court
LOCATION Rockville, Maryland, US
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 4/25/2015
ARCHITECT AECOM
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT
OWNER/CLIENT Montgomery County Department of General Services Office of Special Projects
CONTRACTOR / CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Andrew Sleeth, Assistant Project Manager, Tompkins Builders, Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHER Antoinette Charles, Sisson Studios, Inc.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Kristine Johnson, Jeannie Gasper, Ken Jandura, Rick Macia , Thomas Donaghy, Tom Woods, Jon Miller, Chris Sasiadek, Paula Williams,Teddy Fallaway, Lynn Gordon
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The Montgomery County Circuit Court has become the eastern anchor for a revitalized government center and a symbol of the courts’ important role in the community. Sited in downtown Rockville, this project involves the design of a new courts annex and renovation of parts of the existing courthouse. The design approach seeks balance, cohesion through common purpose, and demonstration of the compelling ideals of an orderly society. The courtrooms are prominently displayed on the facade becoming the central expression of the building. Each of the four sets of stacked courtrooms takes on the expression of a powerful column or “pillar.” The pillars, clad in copper-toned metal panels, represent the dignity of the judicial system. They are topped by glass “lanterns” that glow as beacons, highlighting the importance of the judicial system. The design improves circulation throughout the complex by reconfiguring the existing screening areas for additional queue space and developing a new public corridor leading to the annex. The first floor is organized in a user friendly “T” configuration to facilitate way finding. The Annex features four courtrooms per floor organized around a north-south corridor that overlooks a shared government plaza and landscaped park. The public face is expressed through a glass curtainwall system opening towards the plaza as a symbol of government transparency. Judicial officer spaces look out to the District Court and the historic court plaza.
MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 Montgomery County Circuit Court_thubnail, Southeast Exterior View, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 2 Montgomery County Circuit Court_high res ext, Southwest Exterior View, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 3 Montgomery County Circuit Court_high res int, Circuit Court, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 4 Montgomery County Circuit Court_public corridor hearing room, Public Cooridor, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 5 Montgomery County Circuit Court_court_exterior, Court Exterior, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 6 Montgomery County Circuit Court_courtroom facade, Stacked Courtroom Facade, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 7 Montgomery County Circuit Court_ext view south, South Exterior View, © Antoinette Charles Photography
IMAGE 8 Montgomery County Circuit Court_main entrance, Main Entrance, © Antoinette Charles Photography
Montgomery County Circuit Court
Category
Local > AIA Potomac Valley > Institutional Architecture (AIA Potomac Valley)
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