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Clad in white marble, the original 1964 structure configured courtrooms along both sides of a straight central corridor with no access to natural light. Judges’ chambers, clerk functions, and jury spaces were arranged behind the courtrooms and at the building ends. In addition to 425,000 square feet of court and support space, the original building includes a Dallas County detention facility on the top floor. Though the existing building was given a complete facelift, MEP systems were left largely intact. New fire and life safety alarm systems were installed throughout, along with new security systems. On each floor, one or two existing courtrooms were eliminated to provide more space for support functions. The detention facility was not modified, and it remained occupied throughout the construction period.
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