In December 2009, design began on a brand new structure that would become the Madera Courthouse, in Madera, CA. Los Angeles, CA-based architectural firm AC Martin was commissioned to design the 105,000-square-foot, four-story building, which had been positioned to connect with the existing historic courthouse and courthouse park, creating a new town square. One of the primary goals for the new courthouse was to showcase the pride of democracy and to provide a place to assist the workings of the American justice system.
“The historic fabric of the city of Madera relates to the development of resources from the nearby Sierras,” explained Tammy Jow, senior designer at AC Martin. “With that in mind, the judges of the Madera Superior Court asked that this same metaphor be used in the new courthouse design. Specifically, the judges requested the use of granite from the nearby Sierra White™ quarry, wood from the Sierra National Forest and glass to represent the spectacular waterfalls and winter ice formations in the area.”