Multnomah County Central Courthouse
Making justice more transparent, open and welcoming
- Client
- Multnomah County
- Location
- Oregon, United States
- Size
- 460, 000 square feet
- Status
- Completed
- LEED Gold
The 17-story Multnomah County Central Courthouse is helping transform the public’s perception and experience of the region’s justice system. Designed by SRG + CannonDesign in collaboration with CGL Architects, a justice facility expert, and through an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process with Hoffman Construction, the new tower located on Portland’s downtown waterfront accommodates the essential functions of a modern courthouse.
The replacement project focused on three main goals: enhancing the public experience, increasing interior safety and security, and upgrading seismic resistance to withstand a major earthquake.
Integrated project delivery
The Courthouse design team was co-located with the client and the contractor, Hoffman Construction, throughout the design and construction process. Working in a historic building on the site, the team developed a highly collaborative process that enabled everyone, from the engineers to the construction trade partners, to clearly understand the client’s goals for the project and to work together to achieve them.
A marketplace for justice
An open, light-filled entry lobby embodies the welcoming nature of the county courts. Animated by a café, information kiosks, thematic displays, public art, and a dramatic staircase with stunning views of Mt. Hood and the Willamette River, the lobby creates an inviting atmosphere. Key services for county citizens are conveniently located in this spacious area, forming an open marketplace that ensures easy access to essential resources.
Symbolism in the courthouse design
At the heart of the design is the presence of courtrooms that are clearly visible through the glass facade of the building. Public spaces outside the courtrooms provide the building exterior with activity and dynamic energy. The next layer of the facade is glass, reinforcing the transparent nature of justice, overlaid with a regular structure that represents stability and order. The final layer of the exterior is composed of a series of panels in an irregular pattern that symbolizes the people of the County.
Sustainable design strategies
Using a holistic approach, the courthouse pushes the environmental sustainability limits in every aspect of its design. The uniquely composed façade coupled with the structural thermal mass captures the solar heat gain delivered by the morning sun. A radiant hydronic loop embedded in the concrete floor absorbs the energy that falls on the slab and redistributes it to other public spaces, reducing building heating loads on a clear winter morning by up to 20%. Architecture 2030 targets are achieved by combining limited glazing, a high-performance envelope, radiant heating and cooling systems for judge and staff offices, and a displacement system for the courtrooms and public spaces.
In addition to passive energy conservation strategies, the courthouse features an array of rooftop solar panels whose excess energy production helps offset the adjacent Hawthorne Bridge’s energy costs.
