PROJECT Mobile Federal Courthouse

ARCHITECT AECOM

LOCATION  Mobile, Alabama US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  6/5/2018

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Lee Becker, Gerald Briggs, Rodrigo Hurtado, Jose Labrador, Carl Holden, Erin Holdenreid, Kyra Tallon
OWNER/CLIENT U.S. General Services Administration
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Company
PHOTOGRAPHER  Robb Williamson

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER AECOM
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AECOM
MECHANICAL ENGINEER AECOM
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AECOM
CONSULTANT ARA Blast Consultant, Jim Brokaw - jbrokaw@ara.com (Lead Engineer)
CONSULTANT Lighting: John Coventry, Washington, DC, jc@covltg.com (Principal, Lighting Engineer)
CONSULTANT AV/IT: Polysonics, Virginia, Steve Boudreau - steveb@polysonics.com (Senior Consultant)
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

The New U.S. Courthouse in downtown Mobile, Alabama is just north of the Dauphin Historic District. The design of the new Mobile Courthouse expresses the stature and permanence of the United States Judicial system and provides an appropriate civic presence in Mobile. The Classical proportions, window arrangement and detail relate to the adjacent historic Campbell courthouse’s austere classicism and to other historic civic buildings within blocks of the site. The Greek Doric portico not only provides a strong sense of entry on St. Joseph Street, but perhaps more importantly the Greek Doric order is historically a symbol of democracy that is such an inherent part of our judicial system.

Built to replace leased area, the building consists of 155,600 GSF, with five-stories on top of a ground level parking and loading structure. There are six courtrooms, two per floor on floors three, four and five. While each floor accommodates a slightly different area requirement for District and Magistrate Courts and Chambers, there are three Judges’ Suites and two Jury Deliberation Suites per floor. On the floors where the courtrooms and chambers are smaller, the remaining space is used for an attorney workroom, a shared Judges conference room, offices, and building support.

The massing and articulation form a classical base, middle, and attic composition of superimposed two-story orders separated by belt courses and cornices. The attic story has a recessed rather than projected frieze to help diminish the overall scale. The two-story base provides a sensitive transition to the three-story historic Hannah Houses across Conception Street and the residential structures along St. Anthony Street in the historic De Tonti Neighborhood.

The site is located within the walkable area of downtown Mobile, where users can easily access public transportation, associated services, as well as health services, food service, and convenience shopping options such as restaurants, public plazas, and other cultural amenities. The courthouse is symbolic of the importance of the rule of law in our land and its classical design complements and links it visually with the historic Campbell Courthouse.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
2. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
3. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com

4. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
5. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
6. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
7. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com
8. Robb Williamson, Robb.williamson@aecom.com