Market: Civic + Judicial

Ukiah Courthouse Tops Out

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Construction Remains on Track for 2027 Completion

Excerpts: 

“With the structure now taking shape, the community can begin to see the courthouse as it was envisioned—a civic landmark designed to serve Mendocino County for generations. The design-build approach has allowed us to integrate design and construction seamlessly, keeping the project efficient and on track as we transition from steel framing to the next phases of work,” said Project Architect Kahyun Lee of Fentress Studios, a Populous Company.

“Reaching the topping out milestone reflects the dedication of everyone involved—community leaders, designers, builders, and so many others. Through collaboration and the design-build process, we’re keeping the new Mendocino County Courthouse on track and true to its vision,” said John Kudrycki, Principal Project Manager at Fentress Studios.

“Architecture has the power to shape how communities experience civic life. With the new Mendocino County Courthouse, we sought to create more than a place of justice—we aspired to design a building that feels accessible, humane, and connected to community,” said Curtis Fentress, Principal-in-Charge of Design at Fentress Studios. 

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Huntsville U.S. Courthouse Awarded Best Government/Public Building by ENR Texas & Southeast

Posted on by Tim McManus

Excerpt: Located in Huntsville’s central business district, the $95-million, 123,000-sq-ft courthouse features a symmetrical plan with arcing wings flanking a pedimented entry portico as well as a formal public lawn framed by structured landscaping, offering open views and enhancing its dignified presence.

The building’s five courtrooms, jury deliberation rooms and chambers for assigned and visiting judges incorporate high-performance acoustic standards. Along with offices for clerks, juries and administrative staff, the U.S. Marshals Service occupies a secure suite with detention cells, weapons vault and fitness room.

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Planning Meets Purpose at Albemarle County’s Modern New Courthouse in Virginia

Posted on by Tim McManus

Excerpts: Albemarle County’s newly opened courthouse in downtown Charlottesville marks a significant milestone in civic architecture and community planning. Located within historic Court Square, the modern facility replaces aging infrastructure dating back to 1762, addressing long-standing space, safety, and operational needs. A key feature of the project was the restoration of the Levy House, an 1860s Greek Revival landmark that has served as everything from a Civil War hospital to an opera house—now repurposed as the County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.

The courthouse project, designed by Fentress Studios, a Populous Company (who also served as court planner), officially launched in 2020 as a collaborative, two-phase effort with Albemarle County. Spanning several downtown sites, the new complex introduces nearly 80,000 square feet of functional space—including courtrooms, offices, and public areas—to meet the demands of a growing population and rising caseloads.

Fentress Studios guided the planning process through data analysis and stakeholder input, engaging judges, law enforcement, and court staff. Architecturally, the building marries practicality with modern aesthetics, featuring extensive glasswork to enhance daylight and public visibility.

More than just a facility upgrade, this courthouse stands as a symbol of civic progress—respecting its historic roots while embracing the evolving needs of the community it serves.

The new courthouse is actually Phase 1 of a two-phase project that is expected to reach full completion in 2027.  Justice Design News touched base with the highly esteemed Steven White, FAIA, LEED AP, studio director and senior principal with Fentress Studios, for some of the key details on this historic undertaking.

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Top 300 U.S. Architecture Firms of 2025

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Excerpt: Unlike the weather, fashion, and the price of gas, the upper ranks of RECORD’s annual Top 300 American architecture firms by revenue list aren’t all that prone to change… More dramatic maneuvers were reported outside of the Top 300’s upper echelons. For example, Fentress Architects ascended from 112 to 58.

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New Courthouse Construction Celebrated in Ukiah

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar
The Willits News

Excerpts: City of Ukiah officials were joined by representatives of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation this week for a ceremonial ground-breaking of construction on a new Mendocino County Courthouse behind the Railroad Depot on East Perkins Street.

The Judicial Council describes the Ukiah project as “in the Immediate Need priority group and consequently is one of the highest priority trial court capital-outlay projects for the judicial branch.”

The building specifications provided by state officials have it containing seven courtrooms in a total of 81,169 square-feet. The “Design-Build Entity is Hensel Phelps | Fentress Architects.

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Construction Begins on $144mil Courthouse

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Largest Civic Project Ever in Mendocino County

Excerpt: It will take two years for construction crews to complete a public project that is expected to pump millions of dollars into the surrounding community, and in effect expand the commercial core of Ukiah with promises of new retail developments and infrastructure improvements.

“There’s no doubt that we are at a unique point in time where the decisions we make today will dramatically shape the future of our downtown,” said Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley.

The scale of the new courthouse project is monumental:

  • The new courthouse will embrace the latest technologies and meet national standards for ‘green’ public buildings. It will replace a 1950s-era county-owned building which is dated in appearance and function. The current courthouse is out of compliance with current safety, seismic and accessibility codes and deemed by federal officials as a high-risk building because of seismic concerns. The Judicial Council of California after years of delays ranked the new Mendocino County Courthouse as an “immediate need.”
  • It dwarfs other private and public improvements locally past and present. The state funded project has been 20 years in the making, a stop and go process that survived funding crises, multiple delays, and public debates about its location.
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