Chicago: Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP (SOM) has been chosen to design the courthouse tower that will anchor the new Marion County Justice Complex, located in Indianapolis. The project will relocate and consolidate courts, corrections, and other related offices and agencies to the 45-acre former site of the General Motors Stamping Plant. The project was awarded to WMB Heartland Justice Partners, a partnership comprising Walsh Investors, Meridiam Infrastructure, and Balfour Beatty Investments formed to design, build, finance and maintain the justice complex. The team features a design-build contractor joint venture between Walsh Construction Company and Heery International, Inc. Walsh and Heery will be supported by SOM, Dewberry Architects, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and four local Indianapolis firms: The Hagerman Group, Cripe Architects + Engineers, SchenkelShultz Architecture and KERAMIDA.
Located just west of downtown and across the river from White River State Park, the new campus’ careful planning arranges different functional buildings — each designed by the different firms — in a logical and efficient manner that is readily expandable for future growth. The nine-story, 250,000-square-foot contemporary courthouse building, designed by SOM, anchors the complex. Expressed as a dignified glazed volume, the building contains 28 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, and administrative offices. Public circulation corridors abut the south facade window wall, opening onto views out toward the landscape and filling the spaces with natural light. Judges’ chambers and private offices are oriented to the north and feature either punched wall windows or window walls, again optimizing daylighting opportunities and aligning these spaces with views of downtown.
The building’s complex circulation patterns are organized via a two-story glass entrance that is elevated one level above grade. Public entry and circulation occurs at this level, while secure corrections circulation occurs one level below. Aesthetically, the grade change is expressed through a set of broad steps that descend down a modest hill, conveying the courthouse’s sense of civic dignity and purpose. Separate buildings of smaller scales house detention, medical, corrections, and sheriff’s office facilities.
“After decades of study, Marion County is finally ready to take a big step toward improving public safety through building a modern, efficient justice complex,” Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said of the project.
About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world, with a 75-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment. The firm’s longstanding leadership in design and building technology has been honored with more than 1,700 awards for quality, innovation, and management. The American Institute of Architects has recognized SOM twice with its highest honor, the Architecture Firm Award — in 1962 and again in 1996. The firm maintains offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Abu Dhabi.