The centerpiece of the Placer County government campus, the new Bill Santucci Justice Center in Roseville, Calif., conveys messages of enduring strength and durability.
“The courthouse design is trying to establish a civic presence-a formal, orderly building that represents stability, as well as an open acceptance for citizens,” said Peter Saucerman, AIA, LEED AP, partner of business development with the architect, Dreyfuss & Blackford, Sacramento, Calif. “This is a serious place for conducting serious and thoughtful justice proceedings, but the intent is to welcome the public and encourage participation in the judicial process.”
The 110,700-square-foot (10,284-m2) state-of-the-art justice center is part of a master plan created to meet the increasing demand for court services in Placer County. Located on a 100-acre
(40-hectare) site-which includes 33 acres (13 hectares) of restored vernal wetlands-the justice center features nine full-service courtrooms, in addition to a range of administrative support facilities, including a childcare center, family services, mentoring services and research facilities. The courthouse also features a fully digital recording retrieval and filing system, along with A/V recording systems in all courtrooms. The two-story collegial judges’ chambers have an open communicating stair and large common library overlooking the wetlands, while a stacked courtroom arrangement allows efficient and secure custody from the transfer facilities in the basement.
Working closely with the county’s Capital Improvements Division, judges and staff of the courts, and the state Administrative Office of the Courts, Dreyfuss & Blackford created a concept that embraced the clients’ concern about security and transparency. The light-filled justice center has a commanding presence and is sited to make the most of the dramatic views of the wetlands located to the south.
A variety of materials were utilized in the building, including site-cast concrete; steel frame with a curtainwall storefront from Oldcastle Glass Vistawall, Santa Monica, Calif,; skylights from Kalwall Corp., Manchester, N.H.; Reynobond ACM panels from Alcoa Architectural Products, Eastman, Ga.; and polished India Black stone veneer.
San Jose, Calif.-based Alumawall Inc. fabricated 20,000 square feet (1,858 m2) of 0.16-inch (4-mm) Reynobond ACM FR core wall panels in Custom Gray with CW3000XLE finish, along with 60,000 square feet (5,564 m2) of 0.16-inch Reynobond ACM FR core wall panels in Custom Silver with CW3000XLE finish for the skylight wells, beam wraps, cone covers, interior walls, exterior canopy and soffits. The Reynobond panels were installed in a 1400 series wetseal system with a 1/2-inch (13- mm) caulk joint.
“It was a very complex job in terms of the geometry required to engineer the building, since very few of the panels are actually square,” said David Warda, president of Alumawall. “We had to use a unique instrument to shoot in points on the building, which allowed us to develop the geometry used to calculate the size and angles of each panel.”
The justice center features a grand and formal entry canopy with a soaring two-story lobby that is flooded with natural light, showcasing the ACM panels. The canopy designates the building entry on the northern elevation, the front and public entry side of the building, while the lobby features full height glazing and skylights.
“The innovative radial plan producing complex curves and slopes matched with the innovative use of composite metal panels provided high reflectivity allowing natural light throughout the public areas,” said Design Award judge Ron McKenzie. “The use of composite metal panels demonstrates that consistent, precise shapes with dimensional stability can provide an avenue for creative use of durable metal materials.”
Design Award judge Bruce Lynch agreed, saying: “Design takes full advantage of metal as a medium for creating unique lines and multi-layered structural attributes both inside and outside the building. Use of metal as an interior building material accentuates the natural light afforded by the design.”
“Mating ACM panels with natural stone veneer and aluminum storefront was a logical and aesthetically successful move,” said John Webre, AIA, principal with Dreyfuss & Blackford. “ACM was originally specified for the aesthetic it adds to the composition. It fits well with the design motif and civic quality of the building. That it has real sustainable qualities in terms of durability, minimal maintenance and recycled content is a bonus.”
Saucerman added: “The ACM materials proved to be very flexible in application while providing a remarkably consistent finish appearance. The steady consistency of the ACM finish plays nicely against the variations inherent in the natural stone and wood used in this project.”
Bill Santucci Juctice Center, Placer County Court, Roseville, Calif.
Architect: Dreyfuss & Blackford, Sacramento, Calif.
General contractor: JB Management, Sacramento
Panel fabricator/installer: Alumawall Inc., San Jose, Calif.
ACM wall panels: Alcoa Architectural Products, Eastman, Ga.
Skylights: Kalwall Corp., Manchester, N.H.
Storefront: Oldcastle Glass Vistawall, Santa Monica, Calif.
