Capital Judicial Center
The new building is a combined District and Superior Court that consolidates the Administrative Office of the Courts and several other facilities.
Taking advantage of the site’s long south-facing side, CHA oriented the single point of access in a queuing vestibule off a grand public plaza. Light materials and articulation of volumes communicate the justices’ concern for “welcome,” “safety,” and “gravitas.”
The arrangement of courtroom sets and the steeply sloping site allowed for four floors on top of secure parking located beneath the entry level. A grand public stair off the main lobby provides views of the Kennebec River, historic district, and the State Capitol Complex.
The first LEED-certified courthouse in the state is an urban brownfield redevelopment with sustainable features that include a high-performance envelope with R15 in the walls and R37 in the roof. Other features include:
- A chilled-beam mechanical system that optimizes energy performance
- CO2 sensors & direct outdoor air system for better air quality
- Water-use reduction through high-efficiency fixtures
- Enhanced commissioning
- A white EPDM roof to reduce the heat-island effect
- Low-emitting materials
- Preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles and carpools
- Water-efficient landscaping
Awards:
- 2015 MEREDA Notable Project
- AIA Maine COTE (Committee on the Environment) Award
- 2016 Historic Preservation Award, Maine Preservation
- LEED for New Construction Gold Certification