The 600,000-sq-ft Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center is a timeless addition to the exquisite architecture that defines Denver's Civic Center Park. The center's architecture complements the classical buildings surrounding it yet remains very much a current statement. The court complex is open to the public and offers a rich collection of public artwork along with a learning center that educates visitors about judicial functions.
Designed to create a more efficient state system, the center consolidates seven judicial and legal agencies that were leasing office space in 10 different Denver locations.
A 12-story office tower houses the judicial and legal agencies, while the courthouse is the location for two courtrooms for the Court of Appeals and one for the Colorado Supreme Court, as well as the state high court library and an educational civics learning center. Formerly, these offices and courts were spread among several locations.
A four-story glass atrium serves as a grand welcome to this state-of-the-art facility. Locally sourced marble lines the halls and floor of the atrium, where an inlaid columbine—the Colorado state flower—adds to the sense of place.
The center is situated along the perimeter of the historic Civic Center Park and directly adjacent to the State Capitol. As home to the state's highest court and two appellate courts, it is a structure with immense symbolic meaning.
The construction team coordinated its work around events such as the USA Pro Challenge and potential disruptions such as the Occupy Denver movement, both of which took place adjacent to the site.
Additionally, the downtown project was hemmed in on all sides by century-old clay water lines and two of the busiest arterial streets in central Denver.
2013 Best Overall Colorado/Wyoming Project
Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center
Denver
Key Players
Owner/Developer Trammell Crow Co., Denver, for the state of Colorado
Architect Fentress Architects, Denver
General Contractor Mortenson Construction, Denver
Structural & Civil Engineer Martin/Martin, Lakewood, Colo.
MEP M-E Engineers Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colo.
