SOM Created A Classically Inspired Federal Courthouse In Fort Lauderdale.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has received approval for a new 10-story federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a fluted metal and glass exterior.

SOM Created A Classically Inspired Federal Courthouse In Fort Lauderdale.

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The new Fort Lauderdale Federal Courthouse, which was recently approved by the US General Services Administration, will span 252,000 square feet (23,411 square metres) over ten stories and will replace an existing courthouse built-in 1979.

The building, which is scheduled to be completed on the southern bank of the Tarpon River in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, will include 12 courtrooms, 17 judges’ chambers, and a green space for city residents.

According to SOM, the building was inspired by classical architectural principles. They show a rectangular tower with a lot of emphasis on verticality that rises from a podium.

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The exterior of the courthouse will feature fluted metal and glass panels that are a contemporary interpretation of Corinthian columns and will help modulate the bright tropical sunlight, the firm explained.

The podium’s landscaping will include a collection of green spaces and access to a new riverfront trail that will protect the site’s mangroves.

“We wanted to create a building that faces the city,” SOM principal Joseph Ruocco explained.

To that end, we designed the courthouse as an asymmetrical tower rising above a one-story podium, which gives the structure an approachable feel and enables us to expand the site’s green space.

SOM Created A Classically Inspired Federal Courthouse In Fort Lauderdale.

The inside of the courthouse will be made of a variety of natural materials, like oak and local coral stone, with the goal of making the federal building feel warm and cosy.

The courtrooms will be located on the upper floors and will feature light diffusion systems that will allow for natural light while maintaining privacy.

“The Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale embodies the ideals of dignity, transparency, and clarity,” said Paul Danna, a partner at SOM.

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“Our design came from a careful look at the needs of everyone involved in a criminal case, as well as a desire to make a building that reflects the culture of Fort Lauderdale and is part of the city’s urban fabric.”

On its roof, photovoltaic solar panels will provide energy to the building, aiding in the courthouse’s LEED Gold certification and SITES Silver certification.

The Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale is scheduled to open in 2026.

SOM, which was founded in 1939, previously completed a glass-pleated courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Recent projects by the firm include a headquarters for Shenzhen’s Rural Commercial Bank and a Middle East-themed UAE diplomacy building in Manhattan.

Written By Tannu Sharma | Subscribe To Our Telegram Channel To Get Latest Updates And Don’t Forget To Follow Our Social Media Handles Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter. To Get the Latest Updates From Arco Unico