Stately public architecture
Civic architecture with the stature of a U.S Courthouse is charged with communicating the dignity and stability of its purpose and the openness and transparency of government while providing high levels of security. The primary facade of the Fred D. Thompson United States Courthouse and Federal Building – a grand, apsidal curved wall with the entry rotunda at its center – creates a welcoming gesture and signals importance. The curve reveals a public passageway, visible from the street, that leads to the building’s six District Courts and two Magistrate Courts. The two flanking towers contain the jury suites, celebrating the important role that the public plays in the judicial process.
Enhancing the urban environment
The new Fred D. Thompson United States Courthouse and Federal Office Building occupies an important urban site in Nashville’s rapidly revitalized downtown. Its design, a blend of classical and contemporary character, connects past and future. While the all-white building stands out as a stately and elevated institution in the context, its landscaped courtyard and future art installation relate it to the pedestrian experience of its Church Street frontage. The mandatory security standoff zone is integrated seamlessly into the landscape to enhance the public experience of the city.
Matt Ligas, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
Principal, Design Practice Leader
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