Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law
Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law
Client:
Department of Public Works, Queensland Government
Location:
Brisbane, QLD
Status:
Built, 2012
Project value:
$570m
Contact Person:
Dr Stephen Long
The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law have opened to much acclaim. The building is a radical departure from traditional court design. It exhibits a high degree of transparency and lightness appropriate to the expression of contemporary justice and to its sub-tropical locale. The new courthouse co-locating the Supreme Court and District Court is the only one of its kind in Australia, providing significant operating efficiencies through the use of shared facilities, including vehicular access through the existing Magistrates Court complex.
This 64 000 m² courthouse, built on the Queensland Place site, bounded by George, Roma and Turbot Streets in Brisbane’s CBD houses 39 courtrooms covering both civil and criminal jurisdictions, chambers for 69 judges, a library and courts administration facilities.
The design maximizes the use of daylighting to all the courts, public waiting spaces and offices through a sophisticated system of glazed walls and layered screens which surround the perimeter of the building, and vary according to the internal functional requirements of the adjacent interior space. The result is a light open courthouse, comprised of generously scaled and simply detailed internal spaces of dignity and presence.
The inclusion of internal and external gardens and courtyards throughout the building responds to the character of the sub-tropical environment and promotes healthy workplaces.
The design of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law also contributes positively to the urban realm of the city, creating a major new public square for Brisbane, and completing and defining both the existing powerful George Street civic axis and the new Tank Street pedestrian axis.
Sustainability measures include water harvesting and recycling, passive solar design, recycled building materials, low energy air cooling systems, and the use of the double glass cavity as an integral component of the air climate control system.
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Client:
Department of Public Works, Queensland Government
Location:
Brisbane, QLD
Status:
Built, 2012
Project value:
$570m
Contact Person:
Dr Stephen Long
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects National Awards,
National Award for Public Architecture, 2013
Australian Institute of Architects (QLD) Awards, Award for Public Architecture, 2013
Master Builders Queensland Construction Awards,
Award for Innovation in Environmental Management, 2012
Key People
Dr Stephen Long
Principal
Brisbane
Canberra
Craig Earley
Associate Principal
Sydney
Robert Ousey
Principal
Group Director Transport
Sydney
Kirstie Galloway
Senior Associate
Brisbane
