Dimensions - Summer 2009 - 5

Historic Courthouse Restoration Earns Acclaim Modernization Adds Security and Efficiency A comprehensive restoration of the circa-1930s Metropolitan Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, continues to win acclaim from preservationists and the design community, with the latest recognition coming from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) Knowledge Community. The modernization of the 11-story courthouse, completed for the Metropolitan Government of NashvilleDavidson County, has been selected for an AAJ citation and will be published in the group’s annual Justice Facility Review later this year. The ambitious project previously received a design award from the Tennessee Chapter of the AIA and a Preservation Award from the Metropolitan Historical Committee. Renovation of the 270,400-squarefoot building required extensive research and careful planning to preserve much of its original Art Deco design. Located on Nashville’s public square along the Cumberland River, the building is a Local Historic Landmark and appears on the National Register of Historic Places. Despite its prominent history, the aging courthouse had become inefficient and worn, and lacked adequate security and life safety systems. PSA-Dewberry provided interior design and court planning services for the project, serving as associate architect to Tennessee-based BWSC. A key challenge involved creating discrete access and egress for the Many interior elements from the building’s 1930s Art Deco era were preserved, while new furnishings and finishes complemented the historic design. general public, members of the judiciary, and inmates. The project also required extensive infrastructure upgrades including new life safety systems; new security electronics, court electronics, and locking systems; and the addition of a belowgrade, five-level parking garage with a public plaza above. Two sets of elevator and stairwell core elements were added at each end of the building for judges and judiciary staff, with direct access to secure parking. New court holding cells accessed via a tunnel at the basement level help reduce operational costs by minimizing transfer time and creating a secure inmate transfer area. The furniture, fixtures, and finishes on the interior—including custom wood paneling, terrazzo floors, marble walls and steps, custom metal railings, and lighting—were maintained and refurbished as historic originals, while new elements were designed to complement the building’s architectural intent. The building was also made ADA-accessible, a challenge that included reconfiguration of the historic millwork in the courtrooms. On the seventh floor, former jail space was reclaimed and converted to administrative use. “The modernization enabled us to incorporate state-of-theart courtroom technology,” says Larry Stephenson, trial court administrator for NashvilleDavidson County. “We have a much safer system for transporting inmates, away from the general public and the new circulation paths for the judiciary. Most importantly, we’ve restored an important civic landmark and given it new life as a modern courthouse facility.” 5
http://www.aia.org/practicing/groups/kc/AIAS075359

Dimensions - Summer 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dimensions - Summer 2009

Dimensions - Summer 2009
Contents
A Growing Practice: Arboriculture Helps Create Safe, User-Friendly Environments
Transforming Design: Expansion Challenges Owner and Design-Build Team
America’s First Diverging Diamond Interchange: A Discussion on the Design’s Efficiencies
A Year in Review: Awards Program Recognizes Libraries to Pumping Stations
Looking for Input: Digital Mapping Pilot Project Open for Comment
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - Contents
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - A Growing Practice: Arboriculture Helps Create Safe, User-Friendly Environments
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - 3
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - Transforming Design: Expansion Challenges Owner and Design-Build Team
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - America’s First Diverging Diamond Interchange: A Discussion on the Design’s Efficiencies
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - A Year in Review: Awards Program Recognizes Libraries to Pumping Stations
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - 7
Dimensions - Summer 2009 - Looking for Input: Digital Mapping Pilot Project Open for Comment
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/Dewberry/dimensions_annualreview2017
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/Dewberry/dimensions_annualreview2016
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