COURTHOUSE SQUARE REVISITED *«g» .-.Ms.*. COURTHOUSE SQUARE REVISITED Landscape and Architecture Guidelines for Redesigning the Open Spaces and Entry Areas of the Edward A. Garmatz Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Baltimore, MD Report of the Design Charrette Team December 1995 Prepared for the General Services Administration By the Design Program of the National Endowment for the Arts Thomas Walton, Ph.D. Rapporteur School of Architecture and Planning The Catholic University of America Washington, DC Background Notes and the Design Challenge The Edward A. Garmatz Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a typical example of Modern architecture. Completed in 1976 as part of Baltimore's urban renewal, its glass and precast concrete facade as well as its siting - an L-shaped footprint along the south and west edges of an otherwise open block - are common elements of the Modern aesthetic, a design philosophy that abandoned historical precedent to explore architecture as it might express the functional disposition of space, technology, construction and the undecorated use of building materials. Originally designed to house several U.S. courts and a mix of other federal offices, the Garmatz Federal Court- house is currently undergoing extensive reno- vation as it is now entirely dedicated to court use, including the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Circuit Court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Magistrate Court and a large ceremonial courtroom. Clearly in terms of function, the Garmatz Federal Courthouse should be regarded as an important civic structure. Its site also reinforces this interpretation. The courthouse is located only a few blocks from the Inner Harbor in the heart of downtown Baltimore and is bounded by Pratt Street to the south, Lombard Street to the north, Hopkins Place to the west and South Hanover Street to the east. The L-shaped building is surrounded by a large public plaza (about 200 by 240 feet) on the east and north. The plaza contains several pedestrian walkways, a major area of grass and landscaping, a U-shaped driveway and the entry to an underground garage. A monumental (albeit, controversial) contemporary sculpture by George Sugarman - Baltimore Federal- sits near the building's entrance as a further sign of the structure's civic character. Finally, it is worth noting that a small but handsome bronze statue of Thurgood Marshall graces the southwest (Pratt Street) side of the Garmatz courthouse block. Presently, as a complement to ongoing interior renovations, the General Services Administration (GSA), landlord for the federal government, and the U.S. courts have decided to repair the brick plaza which is swelling in several areas and has many cracked mortar joints. In this case, however, the repair project becomes an opportunity to address other func- tional and aesthetic concerns that have arisen over the years. Perhaps the most significant issue is discovering ways to redesign the open space and entry areas so they speak effectively to the civic profile of a courthouse and enhance HOW CAN THE DESIGN INTENT AND APPRECIATION OF George Sugarman's sculpture be improved? Background Notes and the Design Challenge the appeal and use of the building for employ- ees and the citizens of Baltimore. This is a diffi- cult challenge since Garmatz's interpretation of the Modern aesthetic creates a stark, anony- mous impression that few associate with public architecture and a good number of people find unattractive. Another major problem is the need to improve access and parking for persons with disabilities. A third concern is the appro- priateness of the Sugarman sculpture. Site conditions complicate easy resolution of these issues. The land slopes about 20 feet from the high point (intersection of Lombard and Hopkins Place or northwest corner) to the low point (Hanover Street or east side) of the block. The plaza must incorporate a garage entrance. The front door to the building is deep within the plaza, with access limited to the north and east sides of the site. This leaves Hopkins Place (on the west) and Pratt Street (on the south) as rather uninviting perimeter spaces, a situa- tion that may only be exacerbated by security priorities that focus on controlled access and easy surveillance. To frame the investigation of these and related matters, the staffs of GSA and the U.S. Federal Court in Baltimore pre- pared a list of questions for consideration in redesigning - under the headings of function and aesthetics - the plaza and entrance to the Garmatz courthouse: Function I How can access and parking for persons with disabilities be improved? I How, in general, can pedestrian and vehicular circulation be improved? I How can the plaza be made more inviting to employees and the citizens of Baltimore with well designed street furniture and better landscaping? I How can security around the building be enhanced as part of a larger design solution? I How can the base of the building and exterior colonnade be redesigned to improve the siting and function of the courthouse? I How can the entrance be better defined? I How can the lobby and other entry-level spaces can be reconfigured to effectively meet security and other functional needs? AESTHETICS I How can the building and its plaza make a more positive and attractive urban design statement? I How can the plaza present a more dignified yet accessible image of a U.S. courthouse? I How can the landscape design of the plaza create a better sense of a traditional public square as well as a barrier to traffic noise and pollution? I How can the site lines and vistas be improved from both within and outside the building? I How can the parking garage be incorporated as a design element within the plaza rather than an intrusion on the open space? I How can the design intent and appreciation of George Sugarman's sculpture be improved? I Should the sculpture of Thurgood Marshall, now located on Pratt Street, be moved to a more fitting and visible location? I How can the lobby provide the appropriate sense of arrival and stature befitting a U.S. courthouse? The Charrette Response and Project Focus These questions suggest a scope of work regard- ing design. However, they do not articulate the priorities and general strategies that can be an invaluable first step in selecting the best design- ers and assuring the optimum solution. At this juncture, the GSA and the U.S. courts decided to develop a more detailed set of design guide- lines prior to turning the project over to a spe- cific architecture, landscape and engineering team. To this end, the GSA recommended con- vening a two-day "charrette." The term comes from a French phrase describing the hectic rush of students at the Ecole des Beaux- Arts to com- plete their architectural drawings and put their boards on the cart, en charrette, as they were be- ing collected for entry to various competitions. Today, the word refers to a thorough study of a design problem within a limited time frame. As they had done successfully in the past, GSA sought the help of Thomas Grooms, Program Manager of the National Endowment for the Arts Design Program's Federal Design Improve- ment Program, to organize the charrette and invite a team of nationally recognized designers to participate in the process. As a collaborative effort, the agencies knew the charrette would accomplish two key objectives. First, it would focus attention on and generate enthusiasm for the project, opening up a valuable dialogue be- tween the GSA and the U.S. courts as well as with the city of Baltimore and its citizens. Sec- ond, it would provide a design vision for the plaza - not a final proposal nor a design man- date, but a rich set of principles and guidelines that the GSA and the U.S. courts could accept, modify or reject as they developed the project further. June 26-27, 1995, were chosen as the dates for the event. The multi-disciplinary charrette design team, put together by the Arts Endow- ment, was headed by Susan Child, president and senior principal of Child Associates, a Boston, Massachusetts, landscape architecture firm with extensive urban design experience. Ms. Child's associates were Carlos Jimenez, an award-winning architect from Houston, Texas, and principal of Carlos Jimenez Architecture Studio; Grover E. Mouton, III, a renowned architect and urban design artist from New Orleans, Louisiana, and director of the Center for Regional Design at Tulane University; and William H. Paxson, an associate partner with Davis, Brody & Associates in New York City, where he has served as senior designer for several large-scale urban architecture projects. When these experts gathered at the Garmatz Federal Courthouse in late June, they had a full agenda. They were joined by representa- tives from the GSA's Central and Mid-Atlantic Regional Offices and the U.S. courts (see page 28 for the complete list of Participants in the Charrette). On behalf of the courts, the Honorable Benson Everett Legg, Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, served as host for the event. There was a review of the history of the building and project goals. A tour of the facility provided additional facts regarding on-going renovations, security, ac- cess for persons with disabilities, the two-story lobby and balcony, circulation and entry-level functions including the cafeteria and ceremo- nial courtroom and waiting area. Walking around the building, the group noted the now-closed lower-level entrance on Pratt Street and the complex mix of functions incorporated in the existing plaza — garage entrance, drive- way, security, parking for the disabled, delivery, pedestrian pathways up the sloped site and across the plaza, and a green area landscaped with grass, trees and shrubs. The tour also was a chance to get a close-up look at both the George Sugarman sculpture - Baltimore Federal - on the plaza and the bronze statue of Thurgood Marshall located in a bermed niche along Pratt Street. Upon returning to the meeting room, the charrette team heard "testimony" from a variety of different stakeholders in the design process. This included commentary from the Baltimore Development Corporation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Public Defender's office, the Pretrial Services Agency, the librarian for the U.S. courts, the U.S. Attorney's office, the U.S. Probation office, the Bar Association of Baltimore City, the Maryland State Bar Asso- ciation, a wheelchair-bound practicing city attorney, Maryland Art Place, a public arts con- sultant, and several faculty members from art schools (see The Charrette Agenda on page 24 for a list of presenters). The Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit; the Honorable E. Stephen Derby, Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court; the Honorable Daniel E. Klein, Jr., Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court; and Judge Legg also addressed the team. HOW CAN THE PARKING GARAGE BE INCORPORATED AS A DESIGN ELEMENT WITHIN THE PLAZA RATHER THAN AN INTRUSION ON THE OPEN SPACE? iiimiiam iiiiiiii The Charrette Response and Project Focus Expanding on the project focus, presenters made these points: I Many felt the Garmatz Federal Courthouse and plaza lacked an appropriately dignified image. Some pointed to older federal court- houses as precedents; others pointed to more recent examples. All noted the need for a design that conveyed the civic/public character of the structure. Their hope was that a redesigned plaza and entry would express the qualities of order and permanence, and help people under- stand the building and its open space as a sym- bol of democracy and justice. I Several individuals mentioned that if the Garmatz courthouse is a civic edifice, then its new plaza should be an inviting public place. The present situation was judged confusing, unattractive and overwhelmed by hard surfaces, particularly the mammoth brick stairway. On the positive side, because people enjoyed the views and use of landscaped areas away from busy street traffic, presenters suggested there be as much green space as possible. The plaza was seen as an oasis in a densely developed down- town environment. To enhance this perception, more benches, well-designed lighting and other people-friendly amenities were recommended as elements to be included in any new plaza design. I A number of those addressing the charrette team went beyond pointing out design weak- nesses of the plaza and public spaces to share their feelings that the Garmatz Federal Court- house as a whole was an architectural failure. The new plaza should be an inviting public place. The present situation was judged confusing, unattractive and overwhelmed by hard surfaces, particularly the mammoth brick stairway. The Charrette Response and Project Focus Generally, these speakers felt the Modern aesthetic was inappropriate to a courthouse. Some made remarks about specific architectural decisions related to topics ranging from urban design to detailing. Many complained about the use of second rate materials and furnishings, and programming shortcuts that gave the inte- rior a cheap or tattered look and caused func- tional problems. Although dealing with these issues was, for the most part, outside the scope of this project, the team listened carefully with the hope that, in fulfilling its mandate to de- velop guidelines for the open spaces and entry areas, it might also respond, in part, to these broader concerns. I Some regarded the small, almost hidden, en- trance as one of the most serious architectural flaws. These people believed the renovation project was an opportunity to create a more prominent and easily recognized "front door" that functioned better in terms of circulation and as a symbolic entry to a courthouse. I For everybody, security was critical issue. There was a uniform desire to have a single entrance serving all visitors to the Garmatz courthouse, including persons with disabilities (presently, this last group comes in from a nearby but separate doorway). Those respon- sible for security also were concerned that the Sugarman sculpture - due to its intricate spatial form and proximity to the building - posed a security risk. Others mentioned a desire to make sure the new design did not create hiding places around the site, including among trees, as current circumstances made them feel un- easy, particularly during low-use hours. I Lawyers and judges alike commented on aesthetic and programmatic needs that might be incorporated in the renovated lobby and lower level areas. Specifically, they wanted an interior designed with a palette of materials that reflected the seriousness of trials and the impor- tance of the American judicial process as a cornerstone of our democratic society. These same materials could also acknowledge the value of the time citizens give up to participate directly in the operation of government through the court system. Functionally, these constituents asked for a lawyers' lounge and witness conference rooms. More public phones would also be useful as well as improved public waiting areas. I It was clear within the legal community, as well as among other users of the Garmatz building, that the Sugarman sculpture was not appreciated as a piece of public art appropriate to a courthouse. By contrast, those representing the arts believed Baltimore Federal was a fine example of Sugarman's talents and noted that it had been designed especially for this site. If it had to be moved, they asked that it stay on the plaza and that the decision about a new placement involve Sugarman himself. I Interestingly, everyone agreed that the sculp- ture of Thurgood Marshall was outstanding. Several individuals remarked, however, that it was too small a piece for the plaza and, if it were to be relocated, that it be given a more intimate setting befitting its relatively small scale. A final comment about the Marshall sculpture was a statement that it belonged to the city of Balti- more, which mandated that GSA receive official permission before moving it. The Charrette Response and Project Focus After the tour and this extensive dialogue, a well-informed charrette team got down to business. Working into the evening and most of the following day, they discussed a myriad of different design issues and strategies. When the group made its presentation in the late afternoon of the second day, it articulated two fundamental principles it believed should shape all aspects of the project: Creating a sense of dignity should be a central theme in design decisions related to the garmatz federal courthouse. Dignity, an essential characteristic of court- houses, was mentioned again and again as the aspect most lacking in the present structure and outdoor spaces. Responding to this criticism, the charrette team concluded, as per the scope of this project, that a critical goal should be to endow the plaza, entry and lobby areas with a seriousness of purpose and the qualities of order and permanence while respecting those aspects of the architecture that could not be changed as part of this effort. INTEGRATING ALL FEATURES OF THE PROJECT - LANDSCAPE, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, SCULPTURE, BUILDING DETAILS AND OTHER ELE- MENTS - INTO A UNIFIED DESIGN CONCEPT AND FABRIC SHOULD BE A PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE. The point here is simply that the many compo- nents of the new design should contribute to a single vision and should complement one another. Specifically, modifications to the site and landscaping on the plaza should work with the new entry sequence and with the details and layout of a redesigned front door and lobby as well as with the existing architecture. Within the framework of these two goals, the team developed guidelines in three specific areas: I Urban Design and Landscape Guidelines I Entry and Lobby/Ground Floor Guidelines I Guidelines Related to Design Details and the Siting of Sculpture Shown on Facing page: The U. S. Federal Courthouse on Wright Square in Savannah. Georgia, IS AN EXAMPLE OF A COURTHOUSE WITH A TRADITIONAL SETTING. THE COURTHOUSE OVERLOOKS A LARGE PUBLIC SQUARE, CREATING AN INVITING CIVIC SPACE AND DIGNIFIED SETTING FOR THE BUILDING. (PHOTOGRAPHS: ROBERT A.M. STERN ARCHITECTS) 10 Creating a sense of dignity should be A central theme in design decisions related to the Garmatz Federal Courthouse. Integrating all features of the project A PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE. Urban Design and Landscape Guidelines These principles are meant to guide the major aesthetic and functional issues related to the plaza/open space in front of the Garmatz Fed- eral Courthouse. They focus on big ideas, orga- nizing concepts that purposely leave questions unanswered so, in the next phase of the process, the GSA, the U.S. courts and the design team can explore a range of alternatives and details that fulfill these objectives. TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT IDENTITY OF THE Garmatz building as a U.S. courthouse, THE BUILDING AND ITS PLAZA/OPEN SPACE SHOULD BE DEFINED AND TREATED AS A "PRECINCT" - A SPECIAL AND RESPECTED PLACE IN THE CITY WITH A CLEAR EDGE AND A DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER THAT CONVEYS NOTIONS OF DIGNITY AND PERMANENCE. A critical step in this project is to recognize that the Garmatz courthouse and the redesign of its plaza is a genuine opportunity to enhance both the city and the image of the courts. The L-shaped building defines the south and west edges of its site and the public square contained within these strong but stark architectural "arms." The challenge is to develop the plaza to complement and improve the image of the architecture as a courthouse so that the open space and the building form an integrated design that reads as a single dignified "pre- cinct." Presently the plaza is cluttered with multiple and often conflicting uses. Pathways, roads and changes in level cut the area into several separate elements, and the landscaping is treated as an isolated garden with little or no relationship to the building. What is needed is an approach that: I Creates an elegant dialogue between the Garmatz courthouse and the open space; I Defines the east and north edges of the site; and I Unifies the architecture and the landscape into an orderly and permanent courthouse "precinct" that conveys a seriousness of purpose and facilitates pedestrian, vehicular and other functions without allowing these activities to distract from the whole. The plaza should be developed as a single, green horizontal plane, a pedestrian space emblematic of a courthouse square or town common. Responding to the "precinct" requirements, the charrette team came to the conclusion that the open space in front of the Garmatz Federal Courthouse should be redesigned as a concep- tual variation of a traditional courthouse square or town common. Historically, these places are the setting for important civic structures. They invite public use but also convey the ideas of order and respect for the rule of law and create a link between the landscape and the archi- tecture. In this tradition, the plaza should be treated as a horizontal plane landscaped with a unified system of pathways, grass, trees and other plantings in a way that complements the architecture, helps identify the entrance to the building and establishes the edges of the site. The new courthouse square also should provide benches, lighting and other amenities so that people can take advantage of the space for quiet thought, conversation, lunch or other similar uses. Obviously, this strategy requires signifi- cant modifications to the slope of the land and the rearrangement of existing functions. These concerns are addressed in the guidelines that follow. 1 2 The Garmatz Federal Courthouse should be redesigned as a conceptual variation of a traditional courthouse square or town common. Historically, these places are the setting for important civic structures. They invite public use but also convey the ideas of order and respect for the rule of law and create a link between the landscape and the architecture. ■ • • > III! • *illitl« 1 1 1 1 J ■ ■111 13 Urban Design and Landscape Guidelines AS A PLANE, THE PLAZA SHOULD BE RAISED TO THE ENTRY LEVEL OF THE BUILDING - OR SLOPE SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM THAT POINT, IF NECESSARY, TO REDUCE THE CANYON EFFECT TO THE EAST ON HANOVER STREET. MOST OF THE PARKING GARAGE RAMP SHOULD BE COVERED, ASSIMILATING AND UNIFYING WHAT HAD BEEN A LOOP ROAD FOR VEHICLES, A GARAGE ENTRANCE, A STEPPED/SLOPED PATH FOR PEDESTRIANS AND A GARDEN INTO A SINGLE GREAT COURTHOUSE SQUARE. The "precinct" concept mandates that vehicular intrusions into the site be minimized (a design objective that also responds to current security concerns). This can be accomplished most effectively by abandoning the loop road, shift- ing delivery and parking for persons with dis- abilities from the current driveway to less central locations and lifting the plane of the open space as close to the level of the building entrance as possible. This could raise the plaza level by as much as 18 feet and would create a unified pedestrian space covering most of the site, including almost all of the garage entrance ramp. This raised area, in turn, could be land- scaped as the courthouse square. If such a trans- formation overwhelmed Hanover Street on the east with a canyon-like wall, the raised open space might be sloped or terraced downward instead as a soft green embankment that still gives a strong "architectural" edge to the plaza. As a last note, it is worth mentioning that a potential extra benefit of the raised plaza trans- formation might be the ability to add parking spaces or other support functions under the new public space. The boundaries of the new plaza - the sidewalks and plaza areas along Lombard and Hanover Street - should both define the "precinct" as a distinctive and dignified urban open space and be developed as an inviting pedestrian environment. These linear edge areas might be architecturally articulated with trees, a trellis and/or some other landscape device. Benches and lights might be incorporated as part of the design, and planted terraces might be integrated within the scheme along Hanover Street to soften the wall supporting the raised plaza on that side of the site. Whatever is done should create a clear edge, define a large central space, complement the entry sequence to the building and the interior landscaping of the new square, and offer an attractive public space for those who use the building as well as those who are just passing by Create a courthouse square by raising the plaza and minimizing vehicular intrusions. Pull-in area for persons with disabiliites New Entry New Courthouse Square Emergency Access Garage Access 14 I Create a clear edge to define a large central space. In its concept and detail, the plaza should be developed as a graceful forecourt to the building, a transition - or filter - that brings people through a transforming experience from the chaos and noise of the street to the front door of a major federal institution - a build- ing that should have a strong civic presence as it represents a cornerstone of democracy in the united states. The new square is the key element for enhanc- ing the profile and dignity of the Garmatz building as a courthouse. As an open space, it should be serious and refined, reflecting the function of the building and preparing those who pass through it for the experience of ob- serving or participating in our judicial system. It should serve as a processional space conveying a sense of decorum and respect as people move from the busy streets into the federal courts. The main pedestrian access to the plaza should be from the north (lombard Street), paralleling the west wing of the building to a new front entrance/ security area. This puts the major pathway into the open space and to the building at the same level as the raised plaza and provides an opportunity to design a clear, dignified and possibly covered entry to the courthouse's new front door. This should not, however, preclude developing secondary paths from other locations on the perimeter of the square if that seems appropri- ate as the design evolves. Emergency access and delivery should be from the east (hanover street) on a secure, limited-access road parallel to and immediately adjoining the south wing of the building. This road, perhaps two lanes wide, substitutes for the vehicular loop that is removed when the plaza level is raised. Unlike the loop, it will be a discrete vehicular passageway approaching the entrance level tucked between the basement wall of the south wing and a new wall support- ing the courthouse square. It will be available only for fire and other emergencies and, with security clearance, to cars and trucks having to make deliveries. Parking for persons with disabilities should be located in a pull-in area on the north edge of the site along Lombard Street. This more than makes up for the space that is lost when the loop road is removed. The new- parking area should be located as close as pos- sible to the main entrance to the courthouse square and offer easy, at-grade access to the front door along the same gracious pathway taken by other pedestrians. 1 5 Entry and Lobby/Ground Floor Guidelines The existing entry and lobby space at the Gar- matz Federal Courthouse is confusing and clut- tered. The entrance itself is not easily perceived from the street. Pathways to the front door dance around a variety of corners and turns as well as the Sugarman sculpture. There is a totally separate and much more circuitous entrance for persons with disabilities. Once inside, security equipment dominates the individual's experi- ence of the lobby. There is no sense of arrival. Orientation is poor. Visitors have to hunt out the elevator. Waiting areas are simply residual spaces that are uncomfortable and poorly fur- nished. The nearby cafeteria is cramped and uninviting. Since the Pratt Street entrance is generally closed, the stair and lower level space are unused and visually ominous. At the same time, now that the Garmatz building is devoted entirely to court use, there is a demand that space be found for some added functions. In particular, there is a pressing need for a lawyers' lounge and witness conference rooms, activities that presently just happen in the hallways. In light of these conditions, the charrette team recommended that the entrance and lobby areas also be redesigned. Their specific suggestions are outlined in the guidelines to follow. There should be a single, secure, dignified public entrance serving all users, including persons with disabilities. This is essential not only from the point of view of security but also in terms of enhancing the dignity and presence of the Garmatz build- ing as a courthouse. With one "front door," designers can concentrate on developing a gracious entry experience linking that space to the new square and the main pedestrian path- way to Lombard Street. THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARMATZ FEDERAL COURTHOUSE SHOULD BE SHIFTED TO THE SPACE PRESENTLY DEVOTED TO THE ENTRY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (ALONG THE WEST WING OF THE BUILDING) WITH AN ADDITION CONSTRUCTED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS FUNCTION - INCLUDING SECURITY - ANNOUNCING THIS AREA AS THE DIGNIFIED FRONT DOOR TO THE COURTHOUSE. This is the optimum location for the entrance for several reasons. There is ample space at this point to serve all users including persons with disabilities. It is reasonably close to and at grade with the proposed Lombard Street parking for persons with disabilities. There also is room for security so that equipment and activity would no longer clutter the lobby. With respect to image, this shift provides the opportunity to design a new front door that is visually more prominent and symbolically more fitting to the courthouse profile of the building and the pro- posed courthouse square. Architecturally, this "portal" should complement the existing archi- tecture but be easily seen and recognized as the entrance from the street and from the renovated plaza. It also should help articulate the walk from Lombard Street as the logical and dignified main pedestrian pathway to the courthouse. AS A STRATEGY FOR CREATING A MORE GRACIOUS AND SPACIOUS LOBBY, THE DESIGNERS SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING OUT THE FREE- STANDING STAIRCASE TO THE SECOND- FLOOR BALCONY AND EXPLORE REMOVING THE LOBBY STAIRS DOWN TO PRATT STREET AND EXTENDING A FLOOR OVER THAT AREA. Together, these changes would permit the design of a spacious, orderly lobby with a seri- ousness of purpose befitting the courthouse use of the structure. These changes would simplify circulation and add enough space to accommo- date the many people entering the building. 1 6 AS A STRATEGY FOR CREATING SPACE FOR A LAWYERS' LOUNGE, WITNESS CONFERENCE ROOMS AND POSSIBLY A NEW CAFETERIA, THE DESIGNERS MAY CONSIDER ENCLOSING WHAT IS NOW AN EXTERIOR COLONNADE ON THE SOUTH WING OF THE BUILDING OVERLOOKING THE PLAZA. A SINGLE, SECURE, DIGNIFIED PUBLIC ENTRANCE SERVING ALL USERS, INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED - ONE WHICH WILL ENSURE SECURITY AND ENHANCE THE DIGNITY AND PRESENCE OF THE GARMATZ BUILDING AS A COURTHOUSE. 17 Entry and Lobby/Ground Floor Guidelines Such a renovation would also allow the devel- opment of an appropriate and much needed waiting area adjacent to the ceremonial court- room on the first floor. All of this should be possible because both stairways are rarely used and have no strong functional relationships with the lobby. All floors, including the bal- cony, are accessible by elevator. as a strategy for creating space for a lawyers' lounge, witness conference rooms and possibly a new cafeteria, the designers should examine two other renovation options. the first would be to enclose what is now an exterior colonnade on the south wing of the building overlooking the plaza. the second would be to extend a wall and glazing around the now-open lower-level Pratt Street columns and passageway. Both or either one of these alternatives would add significant floor space. The project design- ers should, of course, investigate all possible configurations, but one layout would be to use the south wing colonnade as a lawyers' lounge, move the cafeteria to the new lower-level space adjacent to the landscaped Pratt Street side- walk, and transform the existing dining area into witness conference rooms. The finish materials in the lobby should include a limited palette of wood and stone selected to enhance the dignity, permanence and refined quality of this important public space and the courthouse in general. The renovation of the entrance and lobby area, like the redevelopment of the plaza, is a special opportunity to give the Garmatz building the dignified image needed in a federal courthouse. Without being extravagant or lavish, wood and stone detailing can make a real contribution to improving the respect and serious regard people have for the courts and the American system of justice in what otherwise might be considered just another office building. Existing Main Entry (Closed Entry) 18 Proposed (New, additional space shown in color) 19 Design Details and Sculpture Siting Guidelines The charrette team offers these suggestions regarding materials and the two prominent sculptures on the site. The images of dignity and permanence appropriate to the courthouse and a federal/civic building should come from the design of the plaza space, entrance, lobby and other details and not from cladding the garmatz federal Courthouse in marble. The charrette team believes its guidelines will lead to a dignified profile for the building and plaza and that cladding the structure in expen- sive stone would be both unnecessary and in conflict with the Modern aesthetic of the ori- ginal design. With permission, the city's statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall should be given an appropriate home inside the renovated courthouse lobby. People were uniformly impressed with the quality of this sculpture and felt that a contem- plative setting in the renovated courthouse lobby would complement the piece's intimate scale and detail. The exact location of the sculpture would have to be determined with further study. With George Sugarman's counsel, his Baltimore Federal sculpture should be restored and re-sited within the new courthouse square to display its symbolic and civic content more effectively. Clearly, the present location of the Sugarman sculpture leaves it an unappreciated obstruction to the courthouse entry and, from an urban design perspective, largely unseen and un- celebrated. In addition, it interferes with pro- posed guidelines for a new entrance to the Garmatz courthouse. To find a better location for the piece, Sugarman should be invited to participate in the renovation plans for the plaza, offering his recommendations regarding alter- native sites within the new square, and helping to make his monumental work an integral fea- ture of the courthouse block's dignified profile. 20 • "*M 11 M^H^BMift • ' #»* V. >' !$ ^ K E | «M l»4 IN ITS CONCEPT AND DETAIL, THE PLAZA SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS A GRACEFUL FORECOURT TO THE BUILDING, A TRANSITION - OR FILTER - THAT BRINGS PEOPLE THROUGH A TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE FROM THE CHAOS AND NOISE OF THE STREET TO THE FRONT DOOR OF A MAJOR FEDERAL INSTITUTION. (photograph: Wright Square in front of U.S. Courthouse in Savannah, Georgia.) A Summary of the Guidelines Fundamental Principles I Creating a sense of dignity should be a central theme in design decisions related to the Garmatz Federal Courthouse. I Integrating all features of the project - landscape, architec- ture, interior design, sculpture, building details and other ele- ments - into a unified design concept and fabric should be a paramount objective. Urban Design and Landscape Guidelines I To support the current iden- tity of the Garmatz building as a U.S. courthouse, the building and its plaza/open space should be defined and treated as a "precinct" - a special and re- spected place in the city with a clear edge and a distinctive character that conveys notions of dignity and permanence. I The plaza should be developed as a single, green horizontal plane, a pedestrian space em- blematic of a courthouse square or town common. I As a plane, the plaza should be raised to the entry level of the building - or slope slightly down from that point, if neces- sary, to reduce the canyon effect to the east on Hanover Street. Most of the parking garage ramp should be covered, assi- milating and unifying what had been a loop road for vehicles, a garage entrance, a stepped/ sloped path for pedestrians and a garden into a single great courthouse square. I The boundaries of the new plaza - the sidewalks and plaza areas along Lombard and Han- over Streets - should both define the "precinct" as a dis- tinctive and dignified urban open space and be developed as an inviting pedestrian envi- ronment. I In its concept and detail, the plaza should be developed as a graceful forecourt to the build- ing, a transition — or filter — that brings people through a transforming experience from the chaos and noise of the street to the front door of a major federal institution - a building that should have a strong civic presence as it represents a cor- nerstone of democracy in the United States. I The main pedestrian access to the plaza should be from the north (Lombard Street), paral- leling the west wing of the build- ing to a new front entrance/ security area. I Emergency access and delivery should be from the east (Han- over Street) on a secure, limited- access road parallel to and immediately adjoining the south wing of the building. I Parking for persons with dis- abilities should be located in a pull-in area on the north edge of the site along Lombard Street. Entry and Lobby/ Ground Floor Guidelines I There should be a single, secure, dignified public en- trance serving all users, includ- ing persons with disabilities. I The entrance to the Garmatz Federal Courthouse should be shifted to the space presently devoted to the entry for persons with disabilities (along the west wing of the building) with an addition constructed to accom- modate this function - includ- ing security - announcing this area as the dignified front door to the courthouse. I As a strategy for creating a more gracious and spacious lobby, the designers selected for this project should consider taking out the free-standing staircase to the second-floor balcony and explore removing the lobby stairs down to Pratt Street and extending a floor over that area. I As a strategy for creating space for a lawyers' lounge, witness conference rooms and possibly a new cafeteria, the designers should examine two other reno- vation options. The first would be to enclose what is now an exterior colonnade on the south wing of the building overlook- ing the plaza. The second would be to extend a wall and glazing around the now-open lower- level Pratt Street columns and passageway. I The finish materials in the lobby should include a limited palette of wood and stone selected to enhance the dignity, permanence and refined quality of this important public space and the courthouse in general. Guidelines Related to Design Details and the Siting of Sculpture I The images of dignity and permanence appropriate to the courthouse and a federal/civic building should come from the design of the plaza space, en- trance, lobby and other details and not from cladding the Garmatz Federal Courthouse in marble. I With permission, the city's statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall should be given an appropriate home inside the renovated Garmatz Federal Courthouse lobby. I With George Sugarman's counsel, his Baltimore Federal sculpture should be restored and re-sited within the new courthouse square to display its symbolic and civic content more effectively. 23 The Charrette Agenda Monday, 26 June 1995 8:45 Welcome Thomas Grooms Design Program, National Endowment for the Arts 9:00 Presentation on the Building and Relevant Issues Representatives of the U.S. courts 9:30 Tour of the Building and Site Honorable Benson Everett Legg Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland 1 1 :00 Presentations and Comments Shubroto Bose Baltimore Development Corporation James Bredar, Esq. Federal Public Defender Chris Fiora Deputy, U.S. Marshals Service Patricia Hargis Librarian, U.S. courts Barbara Skidmore Pretrial Services Agency 12:00 Lunch 1 :00 Presentations and Comments Tex Andrews Maryland Art Place Lynne A. Battaglia, Esq. U.S. Attorney Herbert Better, Esq. American Bar Association Honorable Stephen E. Derby Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Don Donovan Chief Deputy, U.S. Marshals Service David E. Johnson Chief, U.S. Probation Officer for the District of Maryland Mary Lucinda Kelly Public Arts Consultant Honorable Daniel E. Klein, Jr. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court John Mitchel Professor Emeritus, Towson State University Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit James Paulson Professor, Towson State University Dr. Phoebe Stanton Retired Art Professor Matthew S. Zimmerman, Esq. Bar Association of Baltimore City 3:00 Charrette Convenes Discussion of the Presentations, Issues, Agenda and Format 6:30 Adjourn 24 Tuesday, 27 June 1995 8:45 Assemble 9:00 Presentations and Comments Paul W. Grimm, Esq. Maryland State Bar Association Andrew D. Levy, Esq. Attorney 9:15 Reconvene Charrette 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Charrette Continues 2:30 Wrap- Up and Preparation for Presentation 3:30 Final Presentation and Summary of Design Guidelines Special Guests, as listed. 5:00 Adjourn Special Guests Paul W. Brier Assistant Circuit Executive for Space and Facilities, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit Honorable Marvin J. Garbis Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Honorable John R. Hargrove Senior Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Rob Hewell Director, Portfolio Management Division, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, GSA Honorable Benson Everett Legg Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Honorable George K. McKinney U.S. Marshal, District of Maryland Honorable J. Frederick Motz Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit Honorable Frederic N. Smalkin Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Honorable Joseph H. Young Senior Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland Jan Ziegler Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, GSA 25 The Charrette Design Team Susan Child, Charrette Chair (Boston, MA) Susan Child is president of Child Associates, Inc., Landscape Architecture, an innovative, award- winning design firm in Boston, Massachusetts, which has designed a number of significant projects, including two waterfront parks in New York's Battery Park City — South Cove Park (1989), in collaboration with artist Mary Miss and architect Stan Eckstut, and North Cove Link Park (1995) in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola Architects and sculptor Martin Puryear. These and other projects have been honored by the American Society of Landscape Architects, American Institute of Architects, Waterfront Center and the Parks Council in New York City. The firm's work in historic preservation includes the Master Plan for Stan Hywet Hall Foundation in Akron, Ohio, and the Historic Cultural Land- scape Report and Site Design for Dorchester Heights and Thomas Park in South Boston, Massachusetts, commissioned by the National Park Service. Ms. Child presently serves on the Boston Civic Design Commission. She has par- ticipated in two national and three regional facul- ties for the Mayors' Institute on City Design sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. She has served on numerous design juries and symposiums, has served as a guest teacher and critic at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and has lectured widely on various topics in land- scape architecture. Ms. Child received her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Carlos Jimenez (Houston, TX) Carlos Jimenez is principal of Carlos Jimenez Architecture Studio. He has served as a visiting professor at a number of institutions including Rice University, Texas A&M University, Southern California Institute of Architecture, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Houston, Williams College and Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. Mr. Jimenez has lectured on his work at universities and other cultural institutions throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Italy, Spain and Switzer- land. He has received awards for excellence in de- sign from Architectural Record, as well as several commendations such as "Young Architects" 1987 from Progressive Architecture, "Young Architects" 1988 and "Emerging Voices" 1994 from the Ar- chitectural League of New York, and "Forty under Forty" 1995. His work has been exhibited at gal- leries in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Austin, San Antonio, Helsinki, Moscow, Montreal and Mexico City. Mr. Jimenez graduated from the University of Houston School of Architecture in 1981, receiving awards for best thesis project and best portfolio. Grover E. Mouton III (New Orleans, LA) Grover Mouton, an architect and urban design artist, is director of the Center for Regional Design and an associate professor in Architecture atTulane University. He is coordinating the French/American Mayors' Institute on ( 'ity Design, a four year program involving forty American and French mayors. He previously directed the Mayors' Institute/South for the National Endowment for the Arts. Mr. Mouton 26 is directing urban design projects for the mayors of numerous cities including Knoxville, Charleston, Augusta and New Orleans. His Civil Rights Dis- trict Master Plan, created for the city of Birming- ham, received a National Trust Honor Award. He also has been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the Rome Prize in Architecture, and an American Academy in Rome fellowship. Mr. Mouton's art has been exhibited at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the University of Houston, S.E.C.C.A. in Winston-Salem and the Marlborough Gallery in New York City. He advises and participates on a variety of boards, including the New Orleans Bo- tanical Garden, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine and the National Trust property Shadows-on-the-Teche. Mr. Mouton received a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Tulane University and a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. William H. Paxson, AIA (New York, NY) William Paxson is an associate partner with Davis, Brody & Associates, an architectural firm with projects ranging from complex downtown master plans to sophisticated libraries and data centers. The firm recently completed a master plan for the redesign of the World Trade Center's plaza and retail concourse. Other recent projects include the new operations headquarters for the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the Eskind Biomedical Library at Vanderbilt University. Mr. Paxson has served as senior designer on large-scale projects for Mount Sinai Medical Center, the City University of New York and Harvard Medical School, as well as a recent planning study for the Central Terminal Area at Heathrow International Airport. Mr. Paxson received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Brown University and a master's degree in Architecture from Yale University. Clockwise, From Top Left: Susan Child, Carlos Jimenez, Grover E. Mouton III, William H. Paxson 27 Participants in the Charrette GSA Participants U.S. Courts Participants Kelli Castellano Realty Specialist Baltimore Services Group Chesapeake Realty Services District Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Russell W. Fulton, Jr. Acting Director Business Development Division Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Susan Harrison Chief, Art-in-Architecture Program Cultural and Environmental Affairs Division Central Office Anja Levitties Fine Arts Officer Portfolio Management Division Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Carl Riday Architect Professional Development and Consultation Division Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Laura Stagner, AIA Asset Manager Portfolio Management Division Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Alicia D. Weber Fine Arts Program Manager Cultural and Environmental Affairs Division Central Office Paul W. Brier Assistant Circuit Executive for Space and Facilities United States Court of Appeals 4th Circuit Joseph A. Haas, Esq. Clerk United States District Court District of Maryland Merle Ita Halpern, AIA Design Project Manager Space and Facilities Division Administrative Office of the United States Courts Honorable Benson Everett Legg Judge United States District Court District of Maryland NEA Participants Thomas Grooms Program Manager Federal Design Improvement Program Thomas Walton, Ph.D. Rapporteur Associate Dean School of Architecture and Planning The Catholic University of America 28