George Allen Sr. Courthouse • Dallas, Texas

CITATION George allen sr. Courthouse • dallas, Texas

The expanded George Allen Sr. Courthouse is the home for the Dallas County Civil Courts consolidating four previously disjointed Court jurisdictions into a single structure. The expansion/ renovation has significantly improved operational efficiency and overall building security, while providing a clearly defined point of entry. The courthouse addition responds to the site and program on two levels: the scale of the building and the scale of the city.

The building creates a respectful refinement of the existing area while boldly stating a new presence in Dallas. The new entry Grand Hall, used for special ceremonial functions, is centered on the President John F. Kennedy Plaza providing a monumental terminus and backdrop to this important and historic downtown public plaza.

Major improvements realized by the George Allen Sr. Courthouse include 18 new state-of-the-art courtrooms, a spacious public entry, increased building access through the addition of high speed elevators and escalators, consolidation of clerk and staff support space, heightened building safety systems and site safeguards, separation of staff and judicial corridors from public spaces, separation of secure parking and vertical transportation from public, ADA and accessibility complaint features, increased attorney/client conference rooms, and increased public seating are provided for each existing court floor.

The REES team of professionals collaborating with members of the Court created a flexible courtroom layout capable of meeting the needs of multiple civil court jurisdictions. All but one of the new courtrooms is identical; one large Ceremonial Courtroom is capable of serving large multi-litigate trials as well as appellate court hearings.

The existing building was comprised of eight courtrooms per floor. Each court floor now contains three new ADA-compliant and state-ofthe-art courtrooms, six existing courtrooms, and expanded public and support areas. High volume/ high risk Family and IV-D Courts were relocated to the first two court floor levels to improve security response times, while three new high-speed elevators and escalator service to the fourth floor double capacity and reduce waiting times.

Jury CommenT

The jury felt this project dramatically transformed an uninspired, nondescript structure of the 1960’s into a facility appropriate for its role as a courthouse in a major American city. This design imparts dignity and stateliness to the George Allen Sr. Courthouse, markedly improves operational effectiveness in the civil courts, and simultaneously brings the original dated structure gracefully into the 21st Century.

Limited by a constrained site, the architect has successfully resolved the myriad challenges and problems inherent in many courthouses constructed during the post-WWII era. The emergence of this revitalized courthouse provides an appropriate monumental setting without creating an overbearing presence to the historically important plaza honoring the late President Kennedy. The architect is commended for efforts made in finding and matching stone from the same quarry that supplied the marble for the exterior of original building nearly 50-years earlier.

The new work provides a clear point of entry and identity that was lacking in the original structure. A spacious lobby is directly

accessible from street level and two underground parking garages. The lobby enables the staff to screen and manage the high daily traffic volume of courthouse visitors with ease. Vertical movement within the courthouse is augmented by escalators and high speed elevators. Wayfinding is clear and straightforward.

Natural light is introduced into the public corridors with views overlooking the Presidential Plaza and three neighboring historic buildings. Attention to daylight, public seating, and exterior views provide a comfortable and respectful environment for the public.

oWner

Dallas County Commissioners Court Dallas, Texas

architect of record

Rees Associates, Inc. Dallas, Texas

landscape architect

Mesa Design Group Dallas, Texas

Civil engineer

Jaster-Quintanilla Dallas, LLP Dallas, Texas

structural engineer

Charles Gojer and Associates, Inc. Dallas, Texas

mechanical engineer

Lopez Garcia Group Dallas, Texas

programming

Dan L. Wiley & Associates Stuart, Florida

associate architect

Johnson / McKibben Architects, Inc. Dallas, Texas

General Contractor

W. G. Yates and Sons Construction Co. Fort Worth, Texas

photographer

Blackink Photography Dallas, Texas Completion date: 2007 Construction Cost: $ 40.0 million

number of Courtrooms: 18

Type of Court: Criminal, Civil, Domestic

Building area:

New - 181,900 BGSF, Renovation - 430,900 BGSF, Total - 612,800 BGSF, 459,600 NAA Finance method: Court Fees

delivery method: Design / Bid / Build Type of Construction: New, Renovation leed Certificate: None