Houston, TX (22 June 2011) – A formal dedication ceremony, led by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, was held on June 21, 2011, for the new Harris County Jury Plaza in downtown Houston. The 33,500-square-foot jury assembly hall, which officially opens on July 5, is the centerpiece for the recently consolidated Harris County Courts complex. Located in the center of a nine-square-block campus, the project will be the initial point of contact for jurors serving five courthouse/judicial facilities.

Four jury assembly rooms with approximately 250 occupants are underground, and each will feed civil, criminal, juvenile and family courts. The above ground entry pavilion will serve as a security check point, as well as providing natural light to the spaces below. The impact of the security function is meant not to detract from the sense of arrival. The assembly space, which includes a coffee shop, is connected via tunnel to the courts on neighboring blocks. This allows for unencumbered movement throughout the complex, a change that will streamline the jury process and improve the experience of serving the county as a juror. A major goal was to design a building that has minimal impact on the surrounding buildings and green spaces – to preserve the site as a public park, creating a lively plaza that is green, shady and as open as possible. After hours, the space will be available to the public for approved activities. 

PageSoutherlandPage was the architect for the Jury Plaza, and team members included: Jeff Bricker, Ken Black, Marissa Yu, Rob Owens, Aaron Jones, Ron Gilbert, Ernie Galvan, Andy Phan, Jose Gonzalez, Trinisha Bugg, Joanna Yaghooti, Gladis Oviedo-Garcia, Marcus Martinez and Blair Satterfield. The project was constructed by Hoar Construction. Structural engineering was provided by Haynes Whaley, civil engineering by AECOM and landscape architecture by Knudson & Associates.

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