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Cook County Circuit Courthouse
Project of the Year: Institutional
The Cook County Circuit Courthouse project involved converting
a former 19th-Century warehouse into the $46 million, 177,000-sq.-ft.
facility for victims of domestic violence.
Nine courtrooms have been located in the renovated, four-story,
masonry building south of downtown Chicago.
Support facilities include dedicated and secure support areas
to address the special needs of victims and childcare facility
where children whose parents or guardians are attending court
will have the benefit of counseling and educational programs.
Modern Image Sought
The county court sought to refresh its image with a modern
facility designed specifically for its unique purpose and
to establish a strong presence for itself within the city.
Working within the constraints of an existing structure, an
architect on the project, Chicago-based Booth Hansen, was
challenged to establish an appropriate civic image, while
creating a comfortable interior environment for families.
In addition, as part of Cook County's 2002 Green Building
Ordinance, the courthouse was required to seek certification
for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building
Rating System.
To maximize use of the site and to orient the building entrance
toward downtown, the building's rear elevation was repositioned
to become the front.
A design solution was needed to address the existing facade's
beige, Chicago common bricks so that they complement the rust-colored
masonry of the other three sides.
Rather than simply cladding the existing facade in matching
bricks, a new atrium lobby-punctuated with windows and covered
with a terra cotta tile system-was secured to trusses 16 ft.
in front of the facility.
Widely used in Europe but the first installation in Chicago,
the tile wall creates a rain screen-an open-jointed system
that is pressure-equalized between the exterior and interior
cavity, preventing air and water from being drawn to the interior.
With no sealants used, the system requires minimal maintenance
and is said to be durable.
The proportions of the new facade create a stately image,
while the transparency of the large, north windows welcomes
visitors.
Comprising about 40 percent of the new facade, the windows
provide visitors with a view that juxtaposes the new façade
and the old brick, creating a historically and architecturally
rich experience.
Placement of the new facade 16 ft. in front of the existing
building creates a dramatic 300-ft.-long atrium lobby, soaring
60 ft. in height.
Warm wood panels cover the north wall and reflect and natural
light from southern, clerestory windows that activate the
space with a soft brightness.
Used throughout the public interior spaces, the wood panels
are resin-impregnated to resist scratches and vandalism.
Priorities Set
Addressing several inadequacies found in the former courthouse, the building interior
was designed with the comfort of the victim as the top priority.
With a separate entrance for prisoners via a sally port at the
basement level, the building provides simply appointed, secure
spaces for victims, judges and the public separate from prisoners.
The wood panels found in the atrium carry through to other public
spaces, offering an amiable, domestic feeling, while textured,
laminated glass adds translucency to the material palette. Oval-shaped,
raised ceiling areas create quiet yet cheerful lighting and
continue the civic spirit from the main lobby to the courtrooms
and typical floor waiting areas.
Seeking to LEED
In 2002, Cook County instituted an ordinance required LEED certification for
all new county-owned buildings. Seeking LEED Silver Certification,
the new courthouse is the first structure built under the ordinance.
In addition to the rain screen facade, the project includes
numerous sustainable strategies, such as the site's proximity
to public transportation, solar electric (photovoltaic) roof
panels that provide 5 percent of the building's annual energy,
wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
and energy-efficient mechanical/electrical systems.
The building's adaptive reuse is the project's greenest feature,
especially considering the significant challenges of inserting
a complex building program, with modern amenities, into a building
of an earlier era.
Jury Comments: "It's a beautifully done reuse of an existing
building. It energizes the whole area. That area is a bank of
buildings. The courthouse is a beacon there." The courthouse
was required to seek certification for the U.S. Green Building
Council's LEED Green Building Rating System.
Key Players
Owner: County of Cook
General Contractor: George Sollitt Construction Co.
Architect: Booth Hansen
Architect of Record: Campbell Tiu Campbell
Structural Engineer: Wiss, Janney, Elstner & Associates
MEP Engineer: WMA Engineering
Civil Engineer: McClier Corp.
Landscape Architect: Wolff Clements & Associates Ltd.
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