AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by sashaman

Unfortunately, though, the courthouse is like a nice little gem surrounded by a giant turd - the building is absolutely hideous when you are walking by on the south side of 5th Street. I actually really like the design of the main building, and the pavilion in front of Republic Square park is very nice. However, walking past the building on 5th Street all you can see are those giant, barren concrete slabs - it looks like something out of Iraq. The walls are so tall that near the west end of 5th street you can't actually see the building at all. During construction I thought those "holes" in the wall (you can see them in priller's last picture) would serve some purpose, like having panels installed or something. When they took down the construction fences and those walls were left like completely bare like they are, I got really sad. It looks like unfinished construction on that side.

I could be wrong but I believe the walls are a safety barrier. One reason why San Antonio Street stops at the courthouse is regulations since 9/11 in protecting federal courthouses from a terrorist attack. I would assume those walls are designed to deflect anything from the 5th street side.