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When the building opens, the old courthouse will be fenced off and eventually sold. Money for the new courthouse comes from lease revenue bonds retired over time by the state’s general fund.

Designed by NBBJ, a global architectural firm that planned successful public buildings around the world, the new Sacramento County Superior Courthouse will provide an attractive addition to the skyline.

It will feature a glass curtain wall on the north side that allows natural light in public hallways and views of the American River, two aesthetic considerations clearly not on the minds of the 1965 courthouse architects. The new building will feature precast concrete panels on the east and west facades that match the Capitol, which can be seen from the site.

“At their most basic level, courthouses provide space for judicial proceedings to take place,” NBBJ’s website explains. “However, these buildings must also project an outward appearance that upholds the community’s faith in, and respect for, the justice system. The Sacramento County Superior Courthouse replaces an antiquated Downtown courthouse with a state-of-the-art facility that brings renewed prosperity to the region while meeting the judicial needs of its growing community.”

Sacramento is capital of the fifth largest economy in the world. It deserves a courthouse that not only works effectively but reflects the city’s growing stature. I look forward to the colorful stories the new building will generate in years to come.

Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n