Project
Framingham Regional Justice Center
DCAMM / MA Trial Court
Framingham, Massachusetts
Finegold Alexander is in the final design phase for the Framingham Regional Justice Center that will bring together the District, Juvenile, Family and Probate, and Housing Courts within a single, unified justice facility in the heart of downtown Framingham. Accessible by public transit and deeply connected to the surrounding community, the project reflects a vision of justice that is transparent, equitable, and welcoming to all.
The all-electric courthouse is designed to advance DCAMM’s sustainability goals and Executive Order 594 through the use of ground source heat pumps, high-performance mechanical systems, and lower embodied carbon materials, targeting LEED Silver certification.
Designed to embody both a dignified, civic presence and the human scale, the courthouse responds thoughtfully to the surrounding urban fabric of downtown Framingham. Carefully detailed brick façades reference the architectural character of the neighborhood with subtly faceted and undulating surfaces that create a dynamic pedestrian experience on both the interior and the exterior. Energy efficient triple-paned windows provide natural daylight and views, which, along with integrated public art, foster a calming environment for the public and the staff. Elements of the former Danforth Building will also be incorporated into the project, honoring the site’s layered history within the community.
Size
116,000 SF
Scope
New construction
Program
District, Juvenile, Probate + Family, and Housing Courtrooms; Judicial Suites, Clerk Magistrate + Probation Offices; Jury Deliberation Rooms, Detention areas, District Attorney’s Office, Court Service Center and Public Lobbies
Sustainability
Awards
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In the news
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Project EUI
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“While the Commonwealth has invested significantly over the years keeping our existing courthouse functional, it was clear that true access to justice here in MetroWest required something more. It required something transformative. It required starting fresh. It calls for a new building for the future, for the people that we serve, and the communities that we love. For me, there is no question that this new transformative building belongs in Framingham, the hub and the heart of MetroWest.”
Karen Spilka, President of the Massachusetts Senate
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Direct Sun Analysis Diagrams
The undulating brick panel façade was developed through sun study analysis to reduce direct solar gain, enhance the quality of the interior environment and create a dynamic visual effect — appearing to open and shift as one moves along the street.
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“I want to thank Finegold Alexander for their fantastic work. I had the pleasure, when I used to be in the city of Lowell, of working with them on the Lowell court. And it's nice to see them doing the work here as well. In many ways, the court buildings that we build are intended and hopefully will turn out to be, sort of civic monuments to the importance of the rule of law.”
Adam Baacke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance
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