U.S. Court of Appeals

U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Court of Appeals

Project Facts
  • Completion Year 1996
  • Design Finish Year 1994
  • Size Site Area: 115,000 square feet Building Height: 75 feet Number of Stories: 4 Building Gross Area: 400,000 square feet
  • Sustainability Certifications LEED BD+C NC (New Construction) Gold, BD+C, Gold
  • Collaborators
    Architectural Lighting Design Anco Engineers Lendlease - New York Claude R. Engle Hanscomb Associates, Inc. Harding Lawson Associates Kca Engineers Tei Consulting Engineers Wilson-Ihrig Edgett Williams Consulting Group FLACK & KURTZ Page & Turnbull
Project Facts
  • Completion Year 1996
  • Design Finish Year 1994
  • Size Site Area: 115,000 square feet Building Height: 75 feet Number of Stories: 4 Building Gross Area: 400,000 square feet
  • Sustainability Certifications LEED BD+C NC (New Construction) Gold, BD+C, Gold
  • Collaborators
    Architectural Lighting Design Anco Engineers Lendlease - New York Claude R. Engle Hanscomb Associates, Inc. Harding Lawson Associates Kca Engineers Tei Consulting Engineers Wilson-Ihrig Edgett Williams Consulting Group FLACK & KURTZ Page & Turnbull

This award-winning renovation gave renewed life to a four-story, Beaux-Arts courthouse built in 1905. Comprehensive architectural, structural, and interior design services were provided to repair earthquake damage and to broadly enhance the building’s program and appearance.

In the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the General Services Administration asked SOM to revitalize and seismically retrofit the landmark courthouse. The design solution included an innovative friction pendulum base-isolation system, which raised each of the building’s columns onto steel disks. This approach preserved the use of the existing basement level, while a novel installation technique reduced the cost of the project by over $7 million. At the time of its completion, the renovated courthouse was the largest base-isolated structure in the world.

SOM also refurbished courtrooms, chambers, and other interior spaces. The most striking change was the conversion of an interior courtyard—previously used as a mail-sorting room—into a law library. A new glass roof brings filtered daylight into the space.

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