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San Antonio, Texas, USA
The U.S. Federal Courthouse in San Antonio, designed by Lake|Flato Architects and Alta Architects, embodies the order and calm of the federal court system through the use of local vernacular and natural stone.
Lake|Flato Architects’ original plan was to build a five-story structure and a lower bar building that would include an open-air courtyard, but they had to reconfigure the courthouse into a more traditional building: a three-story structure with an atrium .Limited resources and the latest budget from the new federal government.
The architects sought to create a truly innovative building that would subvert the isolation and fortress-like atmosphere typical of the court building typology, while consuming less energy and bringing the user into direct contact with the natural environment, activating the land in the process. The scenery implies life, freedom and happiness.
The U.S. Federal Courthouse in San Antonio received a 2023 Honorable Mention in the American Architecture Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Center for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.
The atrium was not the architect’s final concession, but after analyzing the existing constraints, they did find a way to realize some of their aspirations.
If they could not open the building to the air, they would at least greet the street with a solemn but gregarious face while lighting its interior.
It is located in the heart of San Antonio’s downtown central business district, adjacent to the newly developed San Pedro Creek Cultural Park.
Each courtroom creates an orderly outward expression on the building’s façade, metaphorically placing justice on display for all to see.
As one approaches the building, the court volume is visible from the north.
The architect placed the administrative functions in the south wing and the courts, judges and registrar’s rooms in the north wing facing New Eva Street.
On the north façade, the façade is broken down into a rhythm of rough Lueders limestone pilasters alternating with recessed glass panels.
There are eight pilasters, representing the eight courts, divided into 12 bands, representing the 12 members of the traditional jury. The pilasters are made of horizontal red bricks and decorated with German daubs, a common architectural style in the area.
The west facade facing South Santa Rosa Avenue is mostly glass and shaded by large gray metal brise-soleils supported by large steel pipe columns.
The south facade, currently facing a gated car park, inherits the rhythm of the north facade, although the indentations between the stone pilasters are value-designed, leaving flat surfaces with terracotta spandrel panels between the windows.
Project: U.S. Federal Court in San Antonio
Architect: Lake|Flato Architects
Collaborating Architect: Alta Architects (formerly Munoz & Company)
General Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC.
Client: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Photographer: Robert G. Gomez
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