Seventh District Court of Appeals

This design/build project is in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. The Appeals Court judges requested that the building reflect the dignity of the institution they are representing.

Precast stone was used as the primary exterior material in order to obtain the monumental look appropriate for the institution. Other exterior materials are EIFS with a quartz aggregate at the canopies. The columns are a fiberglass reinforced concrete material. A careful review of all samples produced a consistent finish on the exterior.

The interior plan provides security with a circulation path that is simple and efficient for the functions of the court. There is a central rotunda that serves as a major focal/vertical circulation point. The Lobby, Courtroom, and Law Library are off the central axis of the Rotunda on the First Floor, while the Judges’ suites are off of the Rotunda on the Second Floor. All of the suites include offices for law clerks and secretarial staff. Common intern space, the Law Library, a Reading Room and Conference Room are shared by Judges and law clerks. Cases heard by the Appeals Court involve a large volume of reading and research therefore daylighting is used in the common spaces.