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The design of the New United States Courthouse creates a dominant and powerful landmark in downtown Lafayette. Expressive of the stability, order, and dignity of the Federal Judicial System, the building form is symmetrical. Its monumental facade faces Lafayette Street with an axial relationship to a proposed public park.
The colonnade across the front of the building at the third floor defines the “judicial floors” on the building exterior. These floors sit on a two story base creating a “piano nobile” supporting metaphorically and actually, the court functions above.
Program requirements called for three types of circulation - public, private (judicial) and secure prisoners. Vertical transportation and horizontal movement are planned to provide for clear and separate circulation systems.
The building encloses 204,000 square feet plus parking for fifty on five floors and was constructed for $27,500,000.