United States Federal Courthouse, Los Angeles, CA
The design won a national architectural competition for a new secure federal courthouse. At 1.3 million square feet, it was to be the largest federal courthouse in the US, with 54 District and Magistrate courtrooms. A unique full-height atrium for solar energy harnessing was enclosed with a double wall of photovoltaic glass and stainless steel mesh blast protection. This LEED Gold design explored new energy-saving techniques and integrated structural and mechanical systems into a high-performance façade and building. The design approach was highly contextual; each side of the building responded dramatically to the adjacent government and downtown commercial neighborhoods. Designed at Perkins & Will, Aki Z Knezevic AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Ralph Johnson FAIA, Design Principal