Denver’s $350 million new Justice Center is now in its final year of construction. The Detention Facility is supposed to open Spring 2010, and the Courthouse later that summer. With most of the exterior now complete, one can finally start to get a sense for how well the buildings fit in their place in the city and how they engage the emotions (or not).
First, some photos (thanks again to Vicki), starting with the Detention Facility. From left to right: northeast corner, northwest corner, southwest corner, southeast corner.
I’m picking up a slight Art Deco vibe from this building. Maybe it’s the exterior color and materials or something, but it sort of reminds me of an oversized modern second cousin to the Boulder County Courthouse. For a jail, and considering it’s not finished yet, I’m thinking this building may be OK.
Next, the Courthouse. From left to right: northeast corner, northwest corner, southwest corner, southeast corner.
To me, this building gives off little hints of International Style. I see similarities between this building and the base of the Wellington Webb building (both Tryba’s addition and the historic Annex portion along Colfax). I’m still not particularly fond of the glassy Jury Assembly Room that juts out into the plaza, but I do like overall the dramatic glass curtain wall on the main structure. I think both buildings will look quite nice in the evening, assuming the city plans to install appropriate accent lighting on each structure.
The plaza planned for in between these two buildings hasn’t been installed yet so it’s too early to pass judgement, but it seems to me that the buildings are too far apart from each other and that the plaza will feel a little too exposed, but we’ll see.
