San Antonio Federal Courthouse

the story

SLAM served as the Architect of Record, collaborating with Lake Flato Architects who developed the criteria design for the new three-story San Antonio Federal Courthouse. This new building replaces a courthouse that was originally constructed as a theater for the 1968 World’s Fair and reconfigured into a courthouse in the 1970s. The new courthouse features eight courtrooms and 13 chambers, also housing the district’s probation and pretrial services offices, federal defender office, U.S. marshal’s office, and U.S. attorney’s office.

at-a-glance

TYPE:

New Building

SERVICES:

Architecture

Interior Design

LOCATION:

San Antonio, TX

STATUS:

Completed 2022

SIZE:

243,000 SF

The existing John H. Wood Jr. U.S. Courthouse had been constructed as a theater for the 1968 World’s Fair and reconfigured into a courthouse in the 1970s. It had lead pipes bursting, foundation and heating and cooling issues, and the layout of the building was a concern for security. There were very few windows or opportunity for natural light.

The new San Antonio Federal courthouse serves as a safe, secure facility with a welcoming public presence and an abundance of natural light. The new facility consolidates scattered administrative and training functions previously found in multiple buildings.

The openness of the central atrium helps with wayfinding and easily directs public visitors to the vertical circulation of elevator and stairs found between the two three-story pavilions.

This circulation zone contains visual connectivity between the levels and helps encourage secure openness in the public zone while harkening back to the grand staircases of historic government and public buildings. Abundant natural light in the public realm is provided through generous glazing and skylights.

The district courtroom volume is expressed with a north facing clerestory bringing natural light to the top floor of courtrooms. The proportions and rhythms of windows, stone “columns” and glazed curtainwall staff areas create a rich balance and order to the building.

To the west of the new courthouse a linear landscape and hardscape depict the historic path of the Camino Real de Laredo which creates a public space in which visitors to the courthouse process prior to or after their visit.

This design for a new federal courthouse building is a synthesis of the history of the region, the relationship of built form and landscape and the symbolic expression of federal law.

<p>The design incorporates strong transparent architectural forms that define the building entry and serve as a reference for public circulation. This expression of transparency is symbolic of the transparency of the legal proceedings of the court. This expression of transparency is symbolic of the transparency of the legal proceedings of the court. </p>

The design incorporates strong transparent architectural forms that define the building entry and serve as a reference for public circulation. This expression of transparency is symbolic of the transparency of the legal proceedings of the court. This expression of transparency is symbolic of the transparency of the legal proceedings of the court.

<p>The building conveys concepts such as balance, order, strength, longevity, trust, and solemnity. The careful articulation of form, building massing, fine materials, crafted detailing and ornament convey the hierarchy of the architecture.</p>

The building conveys concepts such as balance, order, strength, longevity, trust, and solemnity. The careful articulation of form, building massing, fine materials, crafted detailing and ornament convey the hierarchy of the architecture.

<p>The interior atrium “courtyard” is a reference to the Camino Real – the historic road that once connected Mexico City to the Spanish-colonial Missions, presidios, and other governmental centers which ran right through the site. The design honors the roadway throughout the building’s public spaces through pattern, color and art.</p>

The interior atrium “courtyard” is a reference to the Camino Real – the historic road that once connected Mexico City to the Spanish-colonial Missions, presidios, and other governmental centers which ran right through the site. The design honors the roadway throughout the building’s public spaces through pattern, color and art.

<p>At the Santa Rosa Street façade the three-story glass walls provide discreet views into the public atrium displaying the transparency and openness of the democratic legal system. The courtroom and administrative wings are defined by pre-cast panels clad in ‘Sisterdale Old Yella’ stone with vertical bands of a glazed curtain wall that rests on a pre-cast base wall clad in terracotta.</p>

At the Santa Rosa Street façade the three-story glass walls provide discreet views into the public atrium displaying the transparency and openness of the democratic legal system. The courtroom and administrative wings are defined by pre-cast panels clad in ‘Sisterdale Old Yella’ stone with vertical bands of a glazed curtain wall that rests on a pre-cast base wall clad in terracotta.

<p>The courtrooms are developed as simple formal spaces, with the bench, witness box and jury box placed much like furniture within the room. These strong ordered volumes promote the dignity of the judicial proceedings and provide a suitable theater for the adjudication of multiple proceedings. Each courtroom has a central bench which is reinforced in the planning and design of the room’s volume.</p>

The courtrooms are developed as simple formal spaces, with the bench, witness box and jury box placed much like furniture within the room. These strong ordered volumes promote the dignity of the judicial proceedings and provide a suitable theater for the adjudication of multiple proceedings. Each courtroom has a central bench which is reinforced in the planning and design of the room’s volume.

<p>The courtroom sightlines are enhanced by placing the clerks in front of the bench at ground level. The two-tiered jury and witness box sit above ground level, and the Judge sits highest above all. The hierarchy of levels improves visibility for all in the space. Natural daylight is provided from both from clerestory and transoms over the courtroom entry doors.</p>

The courtroom sightlines are enhanced by placing the clerks in front of the bench at ground level. The two-tiered jury and witness box sit above ground level, and the Judge sits highest above all. The hierarchy of levels improves visibility for all in the space. Natural daylight is provided from both from clerestory and transoms over the courtroom entry doors.

San Antonio Federal Courthouse

the story

at-a-glance

Project Contacts