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Miami
Courthouse Receives Award Of Excellence
MIAMI, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ --
The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Federal Courthouse was
dedicated only a few months ago by its architect
Arquitectonica and its owner, the General Services
Administration (GSA), and has already won a national design
award.
The American Institute of
Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ)
selected the courthouse and seven other buildings to receive a
special citation for design and architectural excellence. The
eight projects will be included in AIA's 2007 Justice
Facilities Review in September. The Review offers architects
proven strategies and the latest trends in the design and
construction of U.S. justice facilities, chosen by a jury from
the justice, architecture and government sectors. An exhibit
board on the courthouse will become part of a traveling
exhibit touring the country.
Dedicated February 23, the
courthouse completes a complex of judicial facilities in
downtown Miami. It is composed of three elements: two opposing
towers and the glass crystal between them. "The alternating
rhythms, depths and colors of the horizontal and vertical
sunshades frame the green tinted glass and delineate the
primary office, chamber and courtroom functions located in the
tower," said Laurinda Spear, FAIA, ASLA, one of
Arquitectonica's founding principals and the project's design
architect.
Architecturally, the
courthouse profile is characterized by the layering of
different forms and details. Courtrooms, judges' chambers and
offices are defined as two glazed towers edged in sand-colored
precast concrete. A 14-story glass atrium joins the two
towers, linking them with shared waiting room space on each
floor, and providing unusual perspectives and visibility from
floor to floor.
Unlike most judicial
buildings, the courthouse is about openness. Its exterior and
interiors engage each other as if in dialogue. Courtroom
lobbies have vistas into the city. The courtrooms themselves
are designed to bring in natural light. Lower level exterior
columns move into the building above the fourth floor and can
be observed continuing to rise through the curtainwall
glazing. Most unusual is the atrium, a cone of colored glass
that allows passers-by to see the activity within the waiting
rooms on each floor while providing light and exterior views
to those waiting within.
Arquitectonica Interiors was
the project's interior designer, and Hellmuth, Obata,
Kassabaum served as associate architect.
ARQUITECTONICA: A
full-service architecture, interior design, landscape
architecture and planning firm, Arquitectonica began in Miami
in 1977 as an experimental studio. Led by founders Bernardo
Fort-Brescia, FAIA and Laurinda Spear, FAIA, ASLA, the firm
has evolved into a practice of 500 professionals specializing
in Cultural/Institutional, Education, Government/Public,
Hospitality, Interiors, Mixed Use, Office, Planning, Public
Assembly/Sports, Residential, Retail/Restaurant and
Transportation design.
Arquitectonica has offices in
Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, Dubai, Hong Kong,
Shanghai, Manila, Lima, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.
Images available from
pressrequest@arquitectonica.com.
Source: Arquitectonica
CONTACT: Jeanne Albrecht,
+1-210-392-9047,
jeanne@blueclover.com, for
Arquitectonica
Web site:
http://www.arquitectonica.com/
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