Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and United States Courthouse facts for kids

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a special building in downtown Denver, Colorado. It serves as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Finished in 1965, the building was later named after Byron G. Rogers, a Colorado Congressman, in 1984. Many important events have happened here, including a major court case in 1996 and 1997. The building also hosts 11 different federal agencies, like the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Rocky Mountain office, which opened in 2014. Because of its history and design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Why Was This Building Needed?

After World War II, many people moved to Denver, Colorado. More and more federal government offices also came to the city. The old federal building wasn't big enough anymore. So, the government decided to build a new, larger complex. This new building would house the U.S. District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

In 1959, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) chose a well-known Denver architecture firm, James Sudler Associates, to design the building. Another skilled Denver firm, Fisher & Davis, helped them. James Sudler had designed many modern buildings in Denver, including the Church of the Risen Christ and the Denver Art Museum.

Building the Courthouse

In 1961, the government spent $687,000 to buy the land in downtown Denver. This land was near the old post office and custom house. In 1962, another $20 million was set aside for construction. Work on the building began that same year. The first offices opened in the building in 1965.

In 1984, the building was named to honor Byron G. Rogers (1900-1983). He was a Congressman who represented Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1951 to 1971. Rogers was very important in getting the money needed to build the courthouse.

A very important court case was held at the courthouse in 1996 and 1997. To make sure the trial was fair, the case was moved to Denver.

Making the Building Safer and Better

In 1999, the GSA started making changes to the building's entrance to improve security. People who cared about old buildings asked the GSA to be careful not to change the building's special features. The GSA listened and created a design that kept the important parts of the building. This public interest led the GSA to study buildings from this time period. In 2003, they published a book called "Growth, Efficiency, and Modernism: GSA Buildings of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s." This book has won awards and shows the GSA's commitment to preserving historic buildings.

What Does the Building Look Like?

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse has three main parts:

• An 18-story office tower.
• A lower courthouse building.
• A beautiful outdoor plaza.

This three-part design was common in Modern architecture. It's a great example of a style called Formalism. Formalism uses flat roofs, tall columns, balanced designs, high-quality materials, and includes works of art.

The Office Tower

The tall office building has an interesting, angled shape. The middle parts are wider than the ends. The ground floor is covered in white marble. The upper floors have a pattern of light beige concrete panels and windows that stick out a bit. Inside, public areas have marble on the lower walls and shiny terrazzo floors with bronze lines.

The Courthouse Building

The lower, rectangular courthouse building was inspired by two older federal buildings nearby. Its design reminds us of older classical buildings in its size, shape, and the color of its materials. It's mostly covered in light tan stone panels. On one side, these panels have shapes that look like the office tower's footprint and windows. White marble bands are at the top and bottom of the courthouse. The windows are tall and narrow, often in pairs, separated by thin strips of marble.

On the Stout Street side, there's a metal art screen over large windows. This screen is a common feature of Formalism. It also helps block direct sunlight inside. Like the office tower, the public areas inside the courthouse have marble on the lower walls and terrazzo floors. The courtrooms have walls made of alternating light and dark wood panels with interesting wood grain patterns.

Art and the Plaza

Public art is a very important part of this building complex. The GSA set aside money from the start for artworks. Some pieces include:

• A large bronze Great Seal of the United States.
• A carved mahogany piece called Justice, Freedom, and the Release from Bondage. Both of these were created by Denver artist William Joseph.
• A bronze art column called Federal Services by Edgar Britton in the outdoor plaza. This column looks like a totem pole and has carvings inspired by Native American art.

In 2006, artist Jim Campbell added a cool light display on one side of the building, with another piece inside the main lobby.

In 1999, the GSA started a project to make the plaza and entrance better. The goal was to improve security and make the building more welcoming for everyone. The new plaza cleverly includes security features while also adding parts of the original design that were never built. A new glass entrance was added where the office tower and courthouse meet to help with security checks. New lights and a restored water fountain were also part of the design. This project won awards for its excellent work.

Between 2002 and 2006, the lower courthouse building was fully updated. This included improving the heating and cooling systems and changing the layout of some inside spaces.

Important Dates

• 1959: Architects James Sudler Associates and Fisher & Davis were chosen.
• 1962: Construction began.
• 1965: Construction was finished.
• 1966: The building was officially opened.
• 1984: The building was named after Byron G. Rogers.
• 1996-1997: A major court case was held here.
• 1999-2001: The GSA improved the entrance and plaza.
• 2002-2006: The courthouse building was updated.

Building Facts

• Address: 1961 Stout Street
• Architects: James Sudler Associates; Fisher & Davis
• Built: 1962-1965
• Style: Formalism
• Main Materials: Marble and pre-cast concrete panels
• Key Features: 18-story tower, low courthouse, public art, landscaped plaza