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Miami Courthouse Receives Award Of Excellence
MIAMI, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Federal Courthouse was dedicated only a few months ago by its architect Arquitectonica and its owner, the General Services Administration (GSA), and has already won a national design award.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) selected the courthouse and seven other buildings to receive a special citation for design and architectural excellence. The eight projects will be included in AIA's 2007 Justice Facilities Review in September. The Review offers architects proven strategies and the latest trends in the design and construction of U.S. justice facilities, chosen by a jury from the justice, architecture and government sectors. An exhibit board on the courthouse will become part of a traveling exhibit touring the country.
Dedicated February 23, the courthouse completes a complex of judicial facilities in downtown Miami. It is composed of three elements: two opposing towers and the glass crystal between them. "The alternating rhythms, depths and colors of the horizontal and vertical sunshades frame the green tinted glass and delineate the primary office, chamber and courtroom functions located in the tower," said Laurinda Spear, FAIA, ASLA, one of Arquitectonica's founding principals and the project's design architect.
Architecturally, the courthouse profile is characterized by the layering of different forms and details. Courtrooms, judges' chambers and offices are defined as two glazed towers edged in sand-colored precast concrete. A 14-story glass atrium joins the two towers, linking them with shared waiting room space on each floor, and providing unusual perspectives and visibility from floor to floor.
Unlike most judicial buildings, the courthouse is about openness. Its exterior and interiors engage each other as if in dialogue. Courtroom lobbies have vistas into the city. The courtrooms themselves are designed to bring in natural light. Lower level exterior columns move into the building above the fourth floor and can be observed continuing to rise through the curtainwall glazing. Most unusual is the atrium, a cone of colored glass that allows passers-by to see the activity within the waiting rooms on each floor while providing light and exterior views to those waiting within.
Arquitectonica Interiors was the project's interior designer, and Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum served as associate architect.
ARQUITECTONICA: A full-service architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning firm, Arquitectonica began in Miami in 1977 as an experimental studio. Led by founders Bernardo Fort-Brescia, FAIA and Laurinda Spear, FAIA, ASLA, the firm has evolved into a practice of 500 professionals specializing in Cultural/Institutional, Education, Government/Public, Hospitality, Interiors, Mixed Use, Office, Planning, Public Assembly/Sports, Residential, Retail/Restaurant and Transportation design.
Arquitectonica has offices in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila, Lima, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.
Images available from .
Source: Arquitectonica
CONTACT: Jeanne Albrecht, , , for
Arquitectonica
Web site: http://www.arquitectonica.com/
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