Ralph L. Carr Colorado Justice Center
Architect: Fentress Architects
Location: Denver, Colorado
One of the most sustainable courthouse complexes in the United States, this building consolidates offices and pursues efficiency from both a judicial and an energy perspective.
As home to the Colorado Supreme Court and State Court of Appeals, the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Justice Center is sited along the perimeter of Denver’s historic Civic Center Park and next door to the Colorado State Capitol. Designed to create a more efficient state judicial system, the 695,767-square-foot-building consolidates the associated offices of the Courts Administrator, Public Defender, and Colorado Attorney General.
The Ralph L. Carr Colorado Justice Center is clad in granite, architectural precast concrete, high-efficiency glazing, and metal, designed for a 100-year lifespan. The Neoclassical four-story courthouse includes two courtrooms for the Court of Appeals, a courtroom for the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Supreme Court Library, and an educational civics learning center. Complementary to the adjacent state capitol building, the courthouse’s exterior design features granite columns and a grand public entry that reflects the significance of the decisions made inside. A twelve-story office building crafted from high-quality architectural precast concrete sits behind the court's podium, complete with sympathetic detailing and architectural references to the courthouse.
A large glass entryway welcomes visitors and symbolizes the transparency of government. Inside, a four-story atrium draws the eye up to the entrances of the three appellate courtrooms. On the ground floor, the educational learning center provides an interactive experience with exhibits and hands-on games that enlighten both young and old to the inner workings of the judiciary. Above the first floor, the atrium opens up on one side to reveal a dramatic view of the state capitol, reinforcing the checks-and-balances relationship among the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government.
The Ralph L. Carr Colorado Justice Center is one of the most sustainable courthouse complexes in the United States, earning LEED Gold certification by making substantial use of durable and recycled materials while remaining 30 percent more energy efficient than standards demand.
Jury comments
This project sparked some of the liveliest conversation of the day. Some jury members thought the project expressed a feeling of strength without being imposing; others wondered what it said about this time and this place, while others simply viewed it as their favorite project.
