Cover | Design Awards Banquet | Introduction | Sustainable Design 1 | Sustainable Design 2 | | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Credits
Clark County Regional Justice Center Las Vegas, Nevada		Photography: Tom Bonner, Tom Bonner Photography 2006 CMACN Awards Edition, “CMU Profiles in Architecture”       Credits Back to Publications
Jury Comments: The building program is complex, which highlights the multifaceted facility. The design is skillfully articulated and highly animated in response to the building’s functions. The building’s scale is in character with the cityscape, while keeping the massing lower along the street facade for a friendlier pedestrian scale. The “canyon” works well for the sense of arrival and orientation for visitors. The various textures, tones, and details of the concrete masonry units are expertly thought out and well done. In the spirit of the traditional courthouse the Regional Justice Center has an elevated glazed entrance plaza, which projects a strong identity to the street. The design is organized to maximize the use of natural light in public and office spaces, while maintaining the complex security and zoning requirements of a modern courthouse. The five-story base of the complex, houses administrative areas, and reflects a scale that is compatible to the existing downtown fabric of Las Vegas. Courtrooms and judges’ chambers are located in the 19-story tower, where the public, private and secure circulation areas are stacked in their appropriate zones. The offices and courts within the Regional Justice Center are connected by a three-story glass atrium that links the building’s north and south lobbies. The space pays homage to the downtown grid system, while bringing natural light deep into the building. The canyon wall, composed of sandstone and inscribed with quotes on the concept of justice, is the heart of the building. The canyon also creates an interior street, revealing the individual agencies in a “mall” of justice. Concrete masonry units were used to achieve the strength and beauty of stone without the cost. Oversize blocks were used at the base to scale up the building, while bull nose blocks were used to separate the base from the upper walls. A combination of stack and running bond were used to add visual interest. Colors from the surrounding desert were incorporated along with ground face units, which bring out the color of the aggregate to enhance the stone-like appearance.	Architect: Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects 709 Valle Verde Court Henderson, NV 89014 J. Windom Kimsey, FAIA Principal Courts Planning Consultant: HDR Architecture 1711 Preston Road, Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75248 Rob West, RA Director of Courts Design Mike Brenchley, AIA Senior Vice President Structural Engineer: LERA Bennett & Jimenez General Contractor: AF Construction Company, Inc. Masonry Contractor: AF Construction Company, Inc. Block Producer: Rinker Materials Trenwyth Industries, Inc. Owner: Clark County, Nevada