United States Courthouse
Fresno, Calif.
Gruen Associates with Moore Ruble Yudell

Textured concrete panels soften this courthouse's towering mass

	Index | Project Specs
	Click here for slide show. Photo © Tim Griffith

Serving the Eastern District of California, this new U.S. courthouse rises 226 feet high—though it contains just nine levels above grade—making it the tallest building in Fresno, Calif. The architects articulated and lightened its imposing size by dividing it into two volumes that form an L-shape. At the intersection of these masses, a series of sloping roofs—dubbed "shoulders"—lead to an apex volume wrapped in a loggia. This public space provides sweeping views over the city's green suburbs, the tree plantations of California's San Joaquin Valley, and the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.

The building's skin of textured precast concrete panels forms its signature element. The architects intended the variation of surface patterns to suggest the region's rugged landscape, particularly the faces of the mountains rising to the east. Moreover, the faceted nature of the 1,260 individual concrete panels helps mediate the massive scale of this large building's wall surfaces. The panels are more than just detailing: they meet the government's blast-resistance criteria, provide acoustical insulation, and ensure durability of the building envelope.

At grade level, a garden titled "Once Upon a Time" provides a new public space for the city. Created in a collaboration between the architects and local artists, its design reflects landscape qualities as varied as the region's mountain streams, oak-dotted foothills, and sweeping agricultural plains—a celebration of the natural history of the region this courthouse serves. Glass curtainwalls surround the building's lobby, creating a porch-like effect that allows views of the garden.

Formal name of project:
United States Courthouse

Location:
Fresno, Calif.

Gross square footage:
428,000 sq. ft.

Total Construction Cost:
$107 million

Owner:
U.S. General Services Administration

Architect:
Gruen Associates
6330 San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-937-4270 tel.
323-937-6001 fax
www.gruenassociates.com

Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners
933 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-450-1400 tel.
310-450-1403 fax
www.moorerubleyudell.com

Click here to see all the people and products behind this project