How Much Did Looks Factor Into Courthouse Preference?

Barring any mass crime waves landing residents behind bars, the most immediate and visible effect of the City Council's preference for a particular new downtown courthouse facility is its impact on the lower Princess Anne streetscape itself. The facility will become one of the largest buildings in downtown Fredericksburg when it is finished and its exterior appearance combined and 78,000 square foot mass will exert a powerful influence on the architectural character of the city center. 

So, how much did exterior aesthetics factor into the City Council's decision to move forward with a porticoed, cupolaed, mansard roofed facility? 

Not much, when compared with the other concepts that were on the table. 

You see, of the five teams which the City Council considered, the most modern design, was eschewed in favor of That left the City Council with . This lack of radical variance in exterior appearance freed the City Council to give heavier weight to other aspects of the courthouse proposals, such as utilization of other city office space and construction and operation costs. The City Council, in an open work session, said that "overall project benefit," i.e. a mixture of utilitarian effects, was the most pressing consideration in evaluating the courthouse proposals. 

"If someone came up with a really striking, more modern design, as the Renwick Building was in its time, that would have caused some interesting problems," said Ward 2 Councilor George Solley. "Then taste would have been more a part of it."

It is worth noting that while First Choice's proposal has been designated as the preferred option for City Council, the final contract negotiations can still see many modifications to aspects of the exterior design. 

"I think it's important to recognize that while we chose a design that was proposed, design is details and can be changed and can be negotiated," said Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. "If there are details that are, you know, not pleasing, well, this is the proposal. It's not etched in stone."

However, Greenlaw and other members of the City Council were always quick to point out that major overhauls to the exterior design are not expected. 

"It's not going to change hugely," said Greenlaw. "Because it would change the footprint and other aspects of the proposal. Exterior design features are just one of the things that can be involved in the contract negotiations."

At-Large Councilor Kerry Devine noted that the mansard roof would help conceal the three story height of the building with something of a false roofline. At least one reader has noted that mansard roofs, a feature of French Second Empire architecture are uncommon among public buildings in the downtown area, which is noted for its preponderance of federal style slate, shingle and metal roofs. 

"The mansard design, I think, wil at least give the appearance of having two or two and a half stories," said Devine. "Not overwhelming for that section of town."

Solley said that the First Choice proposal was reminiscent of early 19th century architecture seen in Fredericksburg, but it wasn't trying to be a reproduction of anything already downtown. 

"I did think, of the three designs, it was the most appealing aesthetically for a number of reasons," said Solley. "It was less angular than the other two, it had the brick facings on the exterior surfaces more broken up. The window's indentation, that it wasn't just a flat surface."

Devine also noted the Princess Anne Street location of the proposed courthouse, saying it will help solidify lower Princess Anne Street as the government core of the city. 

"The fact that it's located on Princess Anne Street, or the government corridor if you will, I think it will compliment the corridor," said Devine "I'm pleased that's the way we are going."

In the end, perhaps by 2015, the building will be a 78,500 square foot facility housing the Sheriff's Department administrative offices, prisoner holding areas, the circuit court clerk's office and the courthouses of the General District Court and the Circuit Court.