Inspiring civic pride, the Theodore Roosevelt United State Courthouse brings elegant, timeless architecture to Brooklyn

Visible from the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan, the new U.S. Courthouse redefines the Brooklyn skyline and provides a new landmark for the downtown civic center. Located on Camden Plaza, near the borough’s historic main post office and adjoined to the original courthouse, the courthouse is sympathetic to its historic Brooklyn surroundings while projecting a contemporary image for the U.S. federal justice system. 

“How wonderful that Brooklyn’s skyline has been enhanced by this new beacon of civic pride. I fully agree with the architect, my good friend Cesar Pelli, who describes the courthouse as a noble structure that conveys the majesty and openness of the American judicial system.”

A shining light for civic justice 

The unifying theme of the design is “light”— expressed literally and figuratively throughout the building, from its light filled spaces to its 24-foot high sculptural torches. The complex contains an existing 6-story courthouse, a new 14-story courthouse, and a 6-story entry hall. The entry hall ties the two buildings together both functionally and compositionally, providing an easily identified central entrance into the shared lobby. Daylight reaches all public spaces and streams into the open, skylit lobby bringing both light and air into the heart of the complex. The design of the building strives to make the courthouse experience as pleasant as possible.  

Balancing civic presence and physical security  

The design recognizes the inherent security constraints required of a federal courthouse but does so unobtrusively. The main public entry is a blast resistant, concrete-walled structure, physically separated and located before the security screening area. The lobby welcomes and engages the public in a grand and celebratory manner, but also provides ample space for security queuing. Laminated glass on the façade reduces flying glass shards; ballistic glass was incorporated on the U.S. marshals’ level, while the ground floor was fortified with a 1’ thick concrete back up panel. All of these security measures, however, are discreetly designed and virtually undetectable. 

“My colleagues and I could not be more impressed with the entire Pelli [Clarke & Partners] firm. The courthouse is a thing of beauty, inside and out. And, more importantly, it works - for the judges and staff, the lawyers and litigants, and the jurors.”

Forging a lasting cultural legacy through design 

A combination of limestone, metal, and glass were used for the three elements of the complex. The stone is similar in color to other significant public buildings in downtown Brooklyn, while its reflective quality makes the building appear light. These materials form elegant facades that, along with the distinctive curved massing of the upper tower, acknowledge the prominence of the courthouse. Courtrooms and judges’ chambers arranged in a collegial layout with a single chambers floor located between two court floors. This layout reduces the size of the floorplate, creating a more tapered building profile.