United States Federal Courthouse—Seattle
United States Federal Courthouse—Seattle
LOCATION
Seattle, WA
CLIENT
United States General Services Administration
Completion Date
2004
Architect
NBBJ
TypE
Civic Landscapes
Government
Description
PWP created an entry plaza with a major fountain on the corner of the courthouse site which spans 2.5 acres and slopes 21 feet from east to west. A stair joins the plaza with the lobby to create traditional courthouse steps. Bands of metallic-quartzite pavement alternate with linear groves of birch trees planted in a soft paving of irregular stone and grass-both bands running perpendicular to the lobby. Parallel to the stone-and-tree bands, a cascading fountain steps down the east side of the plaza; the fountain is planted with ferns and flowering water lilies. The plant palette and water elements evoke the moist north-woods character of Seattle while providing security to the glazed lobby of the courthouse.
Collaborators
Civil Engineering: Magnusson Klemenic Associates;
Water Feature: Dan Euser Waterarchitecture
