John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse |
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as seen from Central Wharf (2017)
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Federal Courthouse |
| Address | 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 United States |
| Coordinates | 42°21′14″N 71°2′49″W / 42.35389°N 71.04694°W |
| Elevation | 4 feet (1.2 m) Above mean sea level |
| Current tenants | • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts |
| Completed | 1999 |
| Cost | $170 million |
| Owner | United States Federal Government |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 10 |
| Floor area | 675,000 square feet (62,700 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Pei Cobb Freed & Partners |
| Structural engineer | LeMessurier Consultants |
| Main contractor | Clark Construction Group, Inc |
The John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse is a very important federal building in Boston, Massachusetts. It's located right on the waterfront, on a spot called Fan Pier. This courthouse is named after a well-known politician, Joe Moakley, who was a Congressman.
This huge building, which is about 675,000-square-foot (62,700 m2) in size, was finished in 1999. It cost around $170 million to build and has won many awards for its amazing design. You can easily get to the courthouse using Boston's Silver Line public transport.
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What Happens Inside the Courthouse?
This courthouse is the main home for two important federal courts: the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Inside, you'll find:
- Two courtrooms for the Court of Appeals.
- 25 courtrooms for the District Court.
- 40 offices for judges.
- A special law library for the Circuit Court.
- Offices for the United States Attorney, who represents the U.S. government in legal cases.
- Facilities for the United States Marshals service, which helps keep the courts safe.
- Offices for Pre-Trial and Probation services.
- A day-care center for employees.
The building has ten floors above the ground and one below. It's covered in special brick and has granite details, making it look very strong and official.
A Modern Design for Justice
The Moakley Courthouse was one of the first big projects to follow new rules for designing U.S. courts. These rules aimed to make courthouses look important and respected, while also being modern and creative.
When people visit the courtrooms, they walk through a series of grand spaces: an Entrance Hall, a round room called the Rotunda, a Great Hall, and Galleries. In these areas, you can see 21 large paintings created by the famous artist Ellsworth Kelly.
The courtrooms themselves have a special look with big arches made of wood and decorative patterns.
Smart Cooling System
Down in the basement, there's a clever cooling system. It's called an ice storage air conditioning system. At night, when electricity is cheaper, it freezes water to make ice. Then, during hot days, this ice is used to cool the entire courthouse. This smart system saves about $1.5 million each year and helps balance the electricity use in the area.
Who Designed This Amazing Building?
Many talented people and companies worked together to design and build the Moakley Courthouse:
- Main Architect: Henry N. Cobb and Ian Bader from Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in New York.
- Interior Design: Also by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.
- Executive Architect: Jung Brannen Associates from Boston, Massachusetts.
- Structural Engineer: LeMessurier Consultants from Cambridge, Massachusetts. They made sure the building was strong and safe.
- General Contractor: Clark Construction Group, Inc. They managed the whole building process.
- Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: Cosentini Associates LLP from New York. They designed the heating, cooling, and electrical systems.
- Courts Design Consultant: Gruzen Samton from New York. They advised on how to design the court spaces.
- Landscape Architect: OLIN from Philadelphia, PA, and Carol R. Johnson & Associates from Cambridge, Massachusetts. They designed the outdoor areas around the building.
Awards for Great Design
The John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse has received many awards for its outstanding design:
- 2000 National Endowment for the Arts: Presidential Design Awards: Federal Design Achievement. This award recognizes excellent design in federal projects.
- 1999 American Institute of Architects: District of Columbia Chapter: Award of Merit. This shows it's a highly respected design by architects.
- 1999 Dupont Benedictus Award: For Innovation in Architectural Laminated glass. This award recognized its smart use of special glass.
- 1999 Saflex Safe & Sound Award: First Annual Award for the Use of Laminated Glass in Design. Another award for its innovative use of glass.
- 1997 American Institute of Architects / Brick Institute of America: Brick in Architecture Award. This award recognized its beautiful use of brick.
- 1997 General Services Administration: Honor Award for Design. This is a special award from the government agency that oversees federal buildings.
