Government / Judicial

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The Petersburg City Courthouse, which is currently under construction, is planned as an approximately 80,000-square-foot facility.  It will be located in the historic city of Petersburg, Virginia. Designed to be a respectful neighbor to the existing historic courthouse, the new building will rise three stories and house the General District Court, Circuit Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and a large Jury Assembly Room, plus all associated judges chambers and departmental operations.

Currently, these court functions are dispersed across multiple aging buildings throughout the city. The new courthouse will consolidate all departments into a single, modern facility, allowing the city to retire many outdated structures while improving operational efficiency. The courthouse will also include a full sheriff’s department, ensuring comprehensive judicial and public safety services are available in one centralized location.

This project has been collaboratively designed by SSOE (design architect/project engineering) and CPL Architects & Engineers (architect of record).

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A New Space For A Mission-Focused Organization

Creating a new headquarters building for the Georgia Department of Public Safety required a solution that enables DPS’s mission by providing spaces that are highly functional, adaptable, and supportive of the organization, one built on a legacy of tradition, with a dynamic team-oriented culture. The new headquarters project includes a four-and-a-half-story building that expresses DPS’s rich history, professionalism, and excellence. Adjacent to the new building is a 200-space parking deck that is cut into a steep slope allowing for unobstructed views from the building.

The project is located on the existing state campus on United Avenue. The project also includes a new entrance gate and front lawn that is respectful of the surrounding Grant Park context and neighborhood. Care has been taken to be contextual while also providing a robust and secure fence line that helps to secure the campus which also includes facilities for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

Exemplifying Georgia’s Excellence

The new headquarters provides staff with office and training spaces that are light and bright, with warm woods that are refreshing, comfortable, and user-friendly, environments that convey a sense of calm and control. Visitors and guests will encounter these welcoming spaces beginning with a lobby that includes exhibits and artifacts demonstrating how DPS exemplifies excellence in Georgia. The program includes a 150-seat auditorium, training room, a wide variety of conference rooms, all supporting office suites for the department which includes the Divisions of the Georgia State Patrol, Motor Carrier Compliance, and DPS Command Staff.

Metal panels, Georgia granite accents, glass, and spandrel glass are used to accentuate the entrance and public spaces while addressing the views and access to natural light through the building. The high function and adaptable floor plates allow for a future rearrangement that will help to “future-proof” the facility as a long-term asset for the state. The project also includes a new memorial honoring fallen troopers.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety consists of a 98,000 square foot building with a 200-car parking garage located in downtown Atlanta. The project will include a memorial honoring fallen troops, office and training areas, 150-seat auditorium, flexible conference rooms, and unobstructed views of the neighboring campus.

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New Home of Georgia’s Judicial Branch

The Nathan Deal Judicial Center is the State of Georgia’s first building dedicated entirely to the Judicial Branch. The seven‑story, 224,500 SF facility brings the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Court of Appeals, and the statewide Business Court together in a purpose‑built environment designed to support efficient operations, long‑term growth, and public accessibility.

Public-Purpose Centered

SSOE served as Architect of Record, partnering with Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). From the earliest planning stages through construction, our team worked closely with the Courts, GSFIC, Georgia Building Authority, and State Properties Office to ensure the facility met operational needs, respected the Capitol Hill district, and demonstrated responsible stewardship of state resources. The building’s placement, orientation, and façade were carefully planned to enhance the Capitol complex and present a recognizable, civic‑minded presence to the public. A 112‑foot central atrium brings daylight deep into the building, simplifies wayfinding, and creates a safe, clear connection between judicial functions and the public.

A Decade of Planning, Coordination, and Delivery

State leaders entrusted SSOE to guide this project across more than a decade of development—from programming and site selection through design and construction. That responsibility included the demolition of the former State Archives building, navigating a highly constrained site, and coordinating multiple agencies and oversight bodies. Throughout the process, our team focused on transparency, communication, and predictable project delivery to ensure the building opened on time and within budget.

Performance‑Driven, Resource‑Responsible Design

The Judicial Center incorporates energy‑efficient HVAC systems, LED lighting, water‑saving fixtures, and Georgia‑sourced materials to reduce operational costs and support the state’s sustainability goals. Furniture and courtroom components were reused and refurbished where possible, extending the life of valuable assets and reducing waste. The project achieved a three‑Peach rating under the Georgia Peach Green Building Rating System—one of the few buildings in the state to reach this level.

“This is a magnificent architectural achievement that should evoke pride in the entire state … it embodies the ideals of our courts, as well as Governor [Nathan] Deal’s deeply personal commitment to criminal justice reform and to this great state.”

— Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court, at the Dedication Ceremony

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The Spartanburg County Courthouse was designed by SSOE beginning in 2018, in coordination with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architects and other consultants for judicial programming, landscape and site design, and structural engineering. The building, which completed construction at the end of 2023, is approximately 340,000 SF and contain 16 courtrooms that serve the Circuit, Family, Probate, and Magistrate Courts of the County. In addition, area is provided for the many Clerk of Court operations; Sheriff security and holding spaces; office space for the Solicitor, Public Defender, Probation & Parole, Juvenile Justice, and Guardian ad Litem; and other ancillary support components.

The new courthouse was constructed on the same site as the existing Judicial Center, which remained operational throughout the construction process. When the new building construction is occupied, the existing courthouse will be demolished and the sitework will be completed. A secure judicial parking area for approximately 30 vehicles was provided. An adjacent parking garage for public and staff parking was designed and constructed and includes 600 parking spaces.

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New Courthouse Facility

SSOE, in association with Justice Planning Associates and Goforth-Brown & Associates, was selected to design the new Florence County Judicial Center. Located directly across the street from the existing County Administration Building, the building features seven state-of-the-art courtrooms, a large jury assembly area, and designated public and private areas.

Three-Story Lobby & Landscaped Plaza

The spacious entry plaza and landscaped courtyard, reminiscent of a historic courthouse square, welcomes staff and visitors as they enter the facility.

Emphasis On Security

Special consideration is given to separating public traffic from a more restricted security zone, while a judges parking area is now separated from the general public. The three-story structure delineates the different functions of the county’s court system. Various support areas are easily expanded to accommodate two additional courtrooms in the future.

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Catalyst For Revitalization

Beyond answering overdue programmatic needs for the County, the new Judicial Center has become a catalyst for revitalization of the city’s downtown core. By transforming a vacant parking lot into the County’s new Center for Justice, our design team was able to create a beautiful, hardscaped entry portico along North Harvin Street.

Addressing Site Challenges

Additionally, a linear park was created, which spans the setback area from East Calhoun Street southward toward East Hampton Street. Required site circulation concerns were placed well away from the public side of the courthouse. All service vehicles and courthouse traffic now share a driveway toward the northeast corner of the facility, while a small restricted parking lot was created for the judges.

Traditional Elements

Based on traditional architectural elements, the new courthouse features four courtrooms, Clerk of Court, Sheriff’s holding area, judges’ chambers, jury deliberation rooms, public areas, and security core.

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Designing For The Future

York County recently constructed a new County Administration Building at the corner of South Congaree Street and West Jefferson Street. As a part of the project, the existing one-story Ag Building, which housed several county government departments, was demolished. The new site now offers the County the opportunity to consolidate most of the office space needed for day-to-day operations including internal space for future expansion. The programmatic needs called for 80,000-square feet of area. Considering the site, the solution is a four-story building of 20,000 square feet per floor.

Matching The Historic Fabric Of The Area

The new structure takes several design clues from the existing historic Courthouse. The government center is set back from South Congress to align with the Courthouse. A generous green space is uninterrupted for the entire block. Most of the existing trees remain and were supplemented by new plantings. Due to unusual topography, the scale of the new building is seen as a three-story structure along South Congress Street. The height is consistent with neighboring buildings in the area (the Courthouse and those across the street). As the grade drops to the rear of the site, the lowest level is exposed to become a four-story façade.

Creating A Traditional Exterior

The composition of the exterior is traditional in nature and has a cast stone base, brick mid-section, and topped with a cast stone cornice. A hipped roof hides the rooftop mechanical equipment, while the colors, textures, and scale are complementary to the town’s historic Courthouse. Further site development included the re-design and expansion of the parking lot. A garden wall hides the cars from South Congress as well as the addition of trees and landscaping. A secondary lot is also located at the rear of the site. The low portion of the site accommodates site drainage and is treated as an attractive feature.

The new York County Government Center is an 80,000 square foot County Administration Building located at the corner of South Congaree Street and West Jefferson Street across from the existing historic courthouse.

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Historical Integrity

SSOE worked with state officials to renovate the historic South Carolina State House. Intermittently constructed over a period of 50 years and renovated numerous times since its completion, SSOE successfully developed a design strategy that would protect the historical integrity of the building by restoring several areas obscured by prior renovations.

Adapting Existing Drawings

Where current needs demanded further modifications to the structure, unifying elements were created by adapting existing details pulled from archived drawings and newly developed site plans completed by the design team.

In order to address concerns surrounding the building’s current requirements for life safety, the restoration also involved replacing all mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems with top-tier, state-of-the-art designs, while also incorporating all required codes, ADA, seismic (which involved the creation of a base isolation system – the first of its kind east of the Mississippi), and fresh air requirements. Additionally, interior finishes were upgraded to reflect the history and overall brand essence of the State of South Carolina.

“Must-See” Architecture

Hailed as one of the state’s most iconic structures, this 150 year old landmark, is a cultural “must-see” and features key renovations of the Senate and House chambers and gallery, main lobby, legislative meeting room, library mezzanine, Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s office and staff areas, legislative council room and press office.

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Prestigious New Courthouse

Based on the exterior vernacular of renowned courthouse architect Robert Mills, SSOE, in association with Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, designed Richland County’s prestigious new federal courthouse.

Spacious Central Lobby

Featuring a central lobby anchored by a rotunda, the courts surround this public axis creating a striking space, while the large, open public lobbies provide circulation areas outside the district and magistrate judge courtrooms.

 

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Traditional Elements

This 100,000 square foot courthouse is located in the heart of  Lancaster  County’s downtown Historic District. Influenced by the architectural style of famed architect Robert Mills, the building was designed using traditional elements that were incorporated throughout the body of the development.

Security Emphasis

Asked to maintain a reasonable scale to the county’s existing courthouse, the entry pavilion was highlighted with its own gable roof form, creating a more traditional entry façade. Additionally, a two-story glass curtain-wall opens up to green spaces outside while the building’s interior spaces were arranged with emphasis placed on security.

Historical Building

The Lancaster  County Courthouse features six courtrooms, Clerk of Court, Probate Court, Sheriff’s holding area, jury assembly and deliberation rooms and judge’s chambers.

A Note From Steve Willis, County Administrator

“We were very pleased with the progress of the new courthouse. The design process went smoothly and SSOE kept us in the loop regarding all aspects of design. The communication of the design-build team to the Owner was, in one word, exemplary.”

 

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Significant Gathering Place

SSOE was selected by the Georgia Building Authority to create a new outdoor civic space expanding the Capitol Hill grounds and to provide  the public a new place of demonstration or celebration. Known as Liberty Plaza, this significant public gathering space has the State Capitol Building and other State Government Buildings as its backdrop and includes installations of relocated public art promoting Georgia’s rich history.

Complementary Accents

The plaza is supported by securable ornamental fencing, robust security monitoring, and state-of-the-art irrigation systems. It utilizes a native Georgia plant palette and Georgia granites in promotion of state resources, with colors and textures selected to work in concert with the State Capitol Building.

Facilitating Access

To create this civic plaza SSOE provided full design services along with Hughes Good O’Leary Ryan as the team’s landscape architect. The scope of work included the demolition of an existing circa 1954 parking deck, the creation of the open plaza, sidewalks and street trees, and an ADA accessible ramp to connect the new plaza to the existing adjacent overhead pedestrian bridge. Plaza entrances are designed with large public crowds in mind facilitating access from the city’s rapid rail and public parking, and is supported by a new small bus stop on Capitol Avenue just south of the plaza.

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A New Headquarters

The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) constructed a new Headquarters Building on their existing property at 201 Pryor Street. The facility includes a new office building, the renovation of the existing headquarters building (originally built in the early 1900s and expanded in 1987), a new 150-space parking deck, and the creation of outdoor courtyard / collaboration spaces. The new facility faces both Trinity Avenue and Pryor Street and includes a new front door located off of Pryor Street.

Four Stories High With A New Parking Deck

The building is four stories tall with a connector to the existing building with connections at two levels. The building also shares an elevator and stair with a new parking deck which replaces their existing surface parking lot and consolidates all parking needs into their facility. The building also includes an exterior fourth-floor terrace with views of the Capitol building.

Building Accents

The parking deck is five levels with connections to the building at one, four, and five that corresponds to building levels one, two, and four. The building’s façade is red modular brick with large storefront windows on the ground level with precast arched headers. On the upper levels, punched windows have architectural precast headers, sills, and bands. The two-level connector is primarily a glazed wall system with a precast base and sill. The parking deck also has a red modular brick façade facing the street with active use office storefront openings on Level 1 and aluminum framed openings on the upper parking levels.

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Traditional Courthouse Located at the Center of a Historic Town

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Gallatin, Tennessee, the Sumner County Courthouse is a testament to timeless design and modern functionality.

The courthouse site features a unique slope from front to back, ingeniously utilized to create distinct public, restricted, and highly secure zones. This thoughtful design ensures seamless operations and enhanced security.

This impressive five-story building, with one floor reserved for future expansion, will house the Circuit and Chancery Courts, as well as the Criminal and General Sessions Courts. The architectural design harmoniously blends traditional elements with contemporary needs, ensuring the new structure fits perfectly into the historic fabric of Gallatin. The courthouse’s exterior showcases a classic palette of brick, cast stone, and glass. A striking Palladian window graces the center bay, flooding the upper floors with natural light. The two-story entry pavilion offers ample space for queuing before the security checkpoint, enhancing the visitor experience.

A spacious entry plaza welcomes visitors and integrates the courthouse seamlessly into the Main Street setting. This project is a proud collaboration between SSOE, in collaboration with ESA Architects, combining expertise and vision to create a landmark for Tennessee’s judicial system.

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Architectural And Engineering Services

SSOE provided architectural and engineering design services for the new, nine-level South Parking Deck (GBA-180). The facility provides 1,166 parking spaces, including 256 reserved legislator spaces on the two lower levels.

Efficient Plans

The architectural style and material palette of the parking deck emulates the existing government office buildings on Capitol Hill. The efficient plan of the parking deck allows the original State Highway Board Building facing Mitchell Street to be retained and renovated with 32,750 SF of office space for state agencies.

Smooth Operation

Sustainable design features include rainwater harvesting and daylight harvesting LED lighting throughout the deck. The project includes two helipads located on the uppermost level with direct access to the north core. The deck features AVI technology (automatic vehicle identification) to ensure smooth operation at peak times of use. Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc. served as the parking consultant on the project.

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New County Complex

SSOE worked with Horry County to create a new judicial and administration complex that features 11 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, jury rooms, numerous administration offices, and spacious public areas.

Creating Two Distinct Wings

By dividing the complex into two distinct wings – a two-story county government facility and three-story judicial center – our design team created a central sky lighted atrium and main lobby that served as the building’s front door and main connector to each wing.

Matching The Historical Fabric

On the judicial side, a clear delineation is established between the public accessible spaces and the secured jury rooms and judges’ chambers. Brick was selected to help blend the new complex into the historical context of the area. Additionally, traditional design elements were used to scale down the massing of the complex.

A Note From Gary Watson, Horry County Construction & Maintenance 

“Our new courthouse is beautiful and operates very efficiently – both from a systems standpoint and for the procedures of the courtroom. SSOE studied and produced an excellent security system for the building.”

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Addressing The Court’s Growth

Originally built in the early 1920’s and renovated in 1971, this former post office had become less efficient as a result of the growth of the court. Additionally, the building’s interior finishes, which evidenced more than 20 years of wear, were significantly out of date and needed to include upgrades that better reflected the nature of the state’s developing court system.

Capturing Additional Space With New Floor Plan

Renovated to capture additional square footage without adding on to the building’s original core, the building’s new floor plan is a marked contrast to the disparate groupings of the previous layout. The upper floors are divided into suites for the Justices with adjacent offices for their clerks and secretaries. By reducing the size of the first and second floor offices, our design team was also able to add an additional 13 offices.

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Historic Renovation

SSOE provided design services for the historic renovation of the 1920s South Carolina Court of Appeals. Due to the age and original construction of the building, the translation of functions from paper to viable working spaces posed several design challenges.

Creative Engineering

From an engineering perspective, the spatial layouts also had to accommodate the concealment of HVAC and electrical services in each of the restored areas. Unable to pull information from the original architect’s plans, the designers adapted existing molding and plaster detail in the creation of new millwork and decorative treatments.

Designing With Authenticity

Additionally, our team also discovered that several of the shaped profiles in the elevations existed in the marble work on the first floor, thus assuring accuracy in the overall restoration. By lengthening one bay to increase capacity, the courtroom appears architecturally as it originally did in 1927. Renovated areas included administration spaces, courtroom, library, and public areas.

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