Howard County Courthouse, Design Concept

the story

Part of a Public, Private Partnership (P3) effort for the 286,000 SF Howard County Courthouse, SLAM was the lead designer for the Skanska team. The design of the campus recognizes the symbolic importance of the courthouse to the county and was carefully planned to arrange functional areas in a logical and efﬁcient manner which are readily expandable.

at-a-glance

SERVICES:

Architecture

Interior Design

LOCATION:

Columbia, MD

SIZE:

286,000 SF

While justice buildings represent the dignity of law, they must also convey a dignity in form. Howard County wanted an open and welcoming courthouse that inspired and demonstrated the strength, stability and unwavering nature of ‘government by the people’ while defining authority.

SLAM developed an iconic building whose massing and exterior expression are inspired by the historic Howard County Courthouse. The circuit court criminal trial courtrooms are set apart in a distinct leg of the building, which resembles the massing of the original building. This portion of the building is clad in a manufactured stone whose color, coursing, texture, and pattern of openings are a reference to the original court.

The entrances to each courtroom are an abstraction of the original courthouse entrance, employing side lights and transom glazing to borrow light into the court proceedings. The building proﬁle is adorned with a precast cornice and the lobby entrance features a lantern tower element that acknowledges the original courthouse cupola. These elements allow the project to induce the idea of the historic courthouse while engaging the modern design.

<p>The new Howard County Court Building in Columbia Maryland presents the opportunity to simultaneously convey the dignity and accessibility of the legal system while establishing a major civic presence in the community.</p>

The new Howard County Court Building in Columbia Maryland presents the opportunity to simultaneously convey the dignity and accessibility of the legal system while establishing a major civic presence in the community.

The overall landscape plan complements and reinforces the civic identity, order and programmatic clarity of the architectural design.

<p>The plaza and green, acting as a terminus for the procession to the building, will be flanked by planted trees connect to the campus landscape and provide a shaded entry and exit transition zone for visitors.</p>

The plaza and green, acting as a terminus for the procession to the building, will be flanked by planted trees connect to the campus landscape and provide a shaded entry and exit transition zone for visitors.

<p>The green spine will be a visually inviting amenity used by facility staff and visitors to the courts. It will also serve as a civic setting for residents of the surrounding neighborhood and county at large.</p>

The green spine will be a visually inviting amenity used by facility staff and visitors to the courts. It will also serve as a civic setting for residents of the surrounding neighborhood and county at large.

Howard County received an exceptional plan, an exceptional design and a commitment from a team that proved to the County that in this process they would get the best industry had to offer. I promised the County that they would get an exceptional result. Thank you for being so exceptional. Finally, a couple of special notes of thanks to the leadership: to Bob [Egleston] and Doug [Kleppin] – thank you for your vision, your patience and an exceptional design; I am blessed to work with such professionals.

Bryant M. Farland

Corporate SVP, Skanska

Howard County Courthouse, Design Concept

the story

at-a-glance

Project Contacts