Evening star., 1948-10-17
New Courthouse Here
Will Include Many
Special Features

Better facilities for handling pris.
oners, overnight provisions fol
jurors, rooms where businessmen
can dictate correspondence while
waiting for court duty and specia
message center are among feature'
to be built into Washington's new
Federal Courts Building.
Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming, Fed.
eral Works Administrator, in making
public yesterday details of the struc.
ture. said construction bids will
likely be called for early next year
1t will be erected at Third and Con-
stitution avenue NV. on land now
used as parking lot.
Additional features of the build
ing will be courtrooms built along
interior walls, improved acoustics
and lighting, a cafeteria. more pri-
'vacy for judges and juries and spe-
cial lounge rooms. The total cost
of the building is placed between
SIS 100000 and $18,000,000 ).
Building to Have Seven Stories.
Faced with Indiana limestone,
the seven-story building will rep
resent the latest in courthouse de-
signing, Commissioner of Public
Buildings w. E. Reynolds said. The
public Buildings Administration will
re
Air conditioned, the building will
be so designed as to exclude ano
street and other outside noises anc
will contain 81 courtrooms. 1t will
house not only the United States
Court of Appeals and District Court
but judicial functions now scattered
in II buildings.
Unlike many Of the Nations tall
courthouse buildings, Washington's
new modernistic structure will be
limited in height, as are all other
private and public buildings here
Officials pointed out that nothing
can compete in height with the
Capitol dome and the new building
will be only few blocks away
Nevertheless it is to be one of the
largest court buildings in the Ma
ton. Gen. Fleming said. The space
problem was met by putting court.
rooms along inside walls.
Every utilitarian purpose is better
served by the inside courtroom: M
street noises, better acoustics. NOR
uniform light and better control O
air conditioning to provide comfort
able heating, cooling \and ventilat'
ing" Commissioner Reynolds said
Moreover, the use Of inside court
rooms reduces the extent of exterior
walls and thereby reduces the cos
of construction and of mainten
ance."
Layout Of Floors.
Here is the layout by floors
First-The clerk of the court, United
States marshal, probation office
and United States commissioner
Second-Seven District courtrooms
judges chambers, jury rooms, wit
nesses' rooms, register of wills, Com
mission on Mental Health and Do
mestic Relations Commissioner
Third-Grand jury, law library
United States attorney and assign
ment commissioner. Fourth-Sevel
District courtrooms, lawyers room
press room, large lounge for jurors
small lounge for witnesses, auditor
jury commissioner and court report
ers. Fifth-Appeals Court ant
chambers and judges library. Sixtl
Five District courtrooms of equa
size to those on the other floor
and large special District cour
for big trials and ceremonial oc
casions. Seventh-Mechanical equip
ment and rooms for jurors overnight
The basement will house storag
and equipment space, the mail
prisoners cells, cafeteria and 70-ca
garage.
The buildings principal entrance
will be on Constitution avenue
with entrances also on John Mar
shall place and Third street. Sur
face parking for some IS cars ant
parking facilities for AZ deputy
marshals are also provided in tn
| plans,