Thomas F. Eagleton U. S. Courthouse

The Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis, MO is the largest federal courthouse in the country. Completed in 2000, the courthouse follows a classical tripartite scheme, a scheme that uses the split-level stacking concept. Architectural precast concrete gave HOK the design flexibility they needed while delivering a durable material with 100-year service life and generating significant cost savings for the owner.

The 29-story structure was originally designed with a conventional limestone façade. When the General Service Agency (GSA) tightened the financial belt on the project, a simulated limestone concrete system was specified to maintain a high level of finish and keep the project within budget and on schedule. 

The first challenge was to allow for the added weight of a precast system since the structure had already been designed. This result was achieved by thinning the panels to 4", utilizing return legs as stiffeners, and adding steel I-beams to some of the longer panels. The look of a conventional limestone façade was preserved through the variety of colors available in architectural precast. Finish colors were chosen from the various hues found in natural stone. The final color is an ambiguous one that changes depending on light. At times, it appears to have a hint of pink, while at other times it resembles a warm red sunset.

Various textures, such as smooth, textured, and rock-faced, were used to simulate the feel of limestone. The smooth panels received a light glass blast to reveal the sand and cement matrix. Lightly roughened liners were used to give texture to the spandrel panels, and small “V”s embedded in the surface of other panels provided the darker, textured finish. Rock-face panels were poured into rubber molds formed from rough-chipped limestone blocks giving 3" of relief.

In a true team effort, GATE Precast used two of its prefabrication facilities to produce over 427,000 SF (3,823 pieces) to meet the aggressive schedule. 

 

AWARDS

• (2001) PCI Design Awards: Government and Public Buildings

LOCATION
St. Louis, MO

ARCHITECT
HOK

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