Copper-clad Staten Island courthouse turns towers of justice into a beacon of sustainability

<a href="https://inhabitat.com/nyc/staten-island" target="_blank">Staten Island’s</a> new face of justice does much more than uphold the law—it also serves as a shining example of sustainable civic architecture. Designed by Susan T. Rodriguez/<a href="https://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/ennead-architects" target="_blank">Ennead Architects</a>, the recently completed Staten Island Courthouse is a handsome copper-clad development that prominently sits on a hilltop site overlooking the New York Harbor. Energy-efficient systems were a major focus of the project, which features green roofs and daylight harvesting, and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

Built to house the New York State Supreme Civil and Criminal Courts as well as the lower Criminal Court, the Staten Island Courthouse impressively blends function, aesthetics, and symbolism into its design.

As a courthouse, safety and security are paramount to the design, and Ennead Architects achieves a secure facility while still creating welcoming east-facing public spaces and a facade with a transparent glass curtainwall.

As a courthouse, safety and security are paramount to the design, and Ennead Architects achieves a secure facility while still creating welcoming east-facing public spaces and a facade with a transparent glass curtainwall.

The 184,000-square-foot courthouse boasts an impressive array of energy-saving features.

Natural daylight and views are maximized throughout the building, while high-performance insulation and energy-efficient systems minimize heating and cooling needs.

The LEED Silver-seeking building also includes extensive green roofs that combat the heat island effect, manages stormwater run-off, and is constructed from locally sourced and natural materials.