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John Adams Courthouse and Social Law Library
Boston, MA
430,000 SF
Renovation and restoration
Designed in 1894 by George A. Clough, Boston’s first city architect, the courthouse was originally built for the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) and the Social Law Library, the country’s oldest subscription law library. Four additional floors were added in 1909 and 1914. Today, the 430,000-square-foot courthouse is listed on both the State and National Historic Registers and is a Boston Landmark.
CBT completely reorganized the interior to accommodate the needs of a 21st century appellate court while restoring the building’s architectural features to their original grandeur. CBT’s renovation provided clarity to the plan and improved vertical movement. Major court functions were moved to the second and third floors, and the ground floor was remodeled to accommodate public functions. The original entry was reconfigured to allow direct views into the central atrium, a soaring four-story space that serves as an important pedestrian link between adjacent neighborhoods.
Notable features were cleaned and refurbished, including coffered vaults, sculptured corbels, frescoes, and justice-inspired allegorical statues. Five of the building’s wood-paneled courtrooms were returned to their original opulence, including a 1890s courtroom that was formerly used by the SJC and noted jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The Social Law Library was completely renovated and expanded to house the Commonwealth’s historic law collection, including reading rooms with skylights and large stack space. Additional new program elements include a social science library, a courtroom, judges’ chambers, conference rooms, and offices.
Along with restoration of the historic interior, new technology was integrated without disturbing the building’s architectural intent. Lighting, HVAC, telecommunications, and security systems were concealed, while allowing a contemporary infrastructure necessary to administer justice in the Commonwealth.
430,000 SF
Renovation and restoration
Designed in 1894 by George A. Clough, Boston’s first city architect, the courthouse was originally built for the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) and the Social Law Library, the country’s oldest subscription law library. Four additional floors were added in 1909 and 1914. Today, the 430,000-square-foot courthouse is listed on both the State and National Historic Registers and is a Boston Landmark.
CBT completely reorganized the interior to accommodate the needs of a 21st century appellate court while restoring the building’s architectural features to their original grandeur. CBT’s renovation provided clarity to the plan and improved vertical movement. Major court functions were moved to the second and third floors, and the ground floor was remodeled to accommodate public functions. The original entry was reconfigured to allow direct views into the central atrium, a soaring four-story space that serves as an important pedestrian link between adjacent neighborhoods.
Notable features were cleaned and refurbished, including coffered vaults, sculptured corbels, frescoes, and justice-inspired allegorical statues. Five of the building’s wood-paneled courtrooms were returned to their original opulence, including a 1890s courtroom that was formerly used by the SJC and noted jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The Social Law Library was completely renovated and expanded to house the Commonwealth’s historic law collection, including reading rooms with skylights and large stack space. Additional new program elements include a social science library, a courtroom, judges’ chambers, conference rooms, and offices.
Along with restoration of the historic interior, new technology was integrated without disturbing the building’s architectural intent. Lighting, HVAC, telecommunications, and security systems were concealed, while allowing a contemporary infrastructure necessary to administer justice in the Commonwealth.