Duval County Courthouse Renderings

[stjr]

actually I think that is the top of the parking garage a block away

Ah, Tufsu, I "see" your point.  An optical illusion that just shows even "seeing" isn't always believing. I was "suckered" in  a bit by the similarity of the square "blocks" spaced along the garage perimeter wall to the square "blocks" at the base of the front walls of the building, thinking this similarity was to tie the two together aesthetically.  Obviously, just a coincidence of styles.

[I-10east]

Since they decided to keep the DT grid intact with the continuation of Monroe St (in front of the Courthouse) maybe they should've incorporated a Clay St tunnel with a 5 foot clearance right underneath the Courthouse. JK . I agree with that other thread about it being a waste to continue Monroe St in front of the Courthouse. DT has loads of streets that are cut off like Adams, so what's the big deal about a lil' stretch of Monroe.

[thelakelander]

Ron Barton and Ron Littlepage agree with what Metro Jacksonville has stated all along:

One option would be to curve Monroe Street around the courthouse.

That, however, is not practical because the curved road would have to go either smack dab up against the entrance to the courthouse or smack dab up against Adams Street.

Ron Barton, the executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, is arguing that instead of rerouting Monroe Street, the area between the courthouse and Adams Street should become a public plaza.

That make sense, and the ordinance requiring an open Monroe Street needs to be amended by the City Council to allow it.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-01-08/monroe-street-grand-entrance-doomed

[Jumpinjack]

I'm grateful to Littlepage for this column about Monroe Street. I was unaware of the behind the scenes maneuvering for closing Monroe Street despite someone's good intentions to keep it open and part of the grid.

[JaxNative68]

I have finally be able to experience the inside of the courthouse. While sitting in one of the lobbies off the central atrium, I feel like I'm sitting in a food court of a shopping mall... less than impressed when considering how much this building cost to erect.

[Debbie Thompson]

But if it were impressive, it would have cost you twice as much! 

[JaxNative68]

^ not necessarily.  There was a lot money spent to make the seven story atrium interior meet code, which only added to the shopping mall food court feel of the building.

[I-10east]

I went there for jury duty a month ago, and thought it was very nice. From the courtrooms, to the atrium area, to the snackroom with an interior courtyard.

[thelakelander]

I had jury duty a few months ago.  I wasn't impressed, given the amount of cash spent. From an architectural standpoint, I think we could have gotten something much better for the price.

[KenFSU]

Spilled milk at this point, but would have loved to have seen a vertical structure that somehow paid tribute to this bad boy:

[Kerry]

They don't make them like they used to that is for sure.  Public buildings should represent the collective spirit of the people by paying tribute to past generations, honoring the current generation, and inspiring future generations - we do none of that today which is a sad commentary on the 'collective spirit' of the baby boom generation.  Trillion of dollars in public debt and nary a public building constructed in the last 50 years that is worth a crap.