Boston-Based Firm Celebrates Award Win for Justice Center Formally Known as The Lowell Justice Center

LOWELL, MA (November 28, 2023) – Boston-based Finegold Alexander Architects announced today that the Cornelius F. Kiernan Judicial Center in Lowell Massachusetts received the 2023 AIA Justice Facilities Award. This accolade recognizes the firm’s excellence in the design and execution of this remarkable judicial facility.

The Cornelius F. Kiernan Judicial Center, a $148 million facility completed by Finegold Alexander Architects in March 2020, received the new designation last month. The name honors the legacy of Cornelius F. Kiernan, a former special justice who served in various significant roles including the US Army and House Majority Leader. The 7-story, 265,000-square-foot building houses 17 courtrooms across five court departments. Situated within the National Historic District on the Hamilton Canal in Downtown Lowell, this universally accessible structure houses Superior, District, Juvenile, Probate and Family, and Housing Courts. Notably, the Justice Center integrates innovative sustainability practices, achieving LEED Platinum certification, the first state courthouse in Massachusetts and the nation to achieve this prestigious certification.

The 2023 AIA Justice Award acknowledges Finegold Alexander’s work, highlighting their commitment to enhancing justice facility design. Projects receiving this esteemed award are celebrated for their innovative design, functional efficiency, and thoughtful integration of sustainable practices. The Lowell Justice Center is set to receive this accolade at the upcoming Academy of Architecture for Justice conference in Washington, D.C. from November 15 to 17.

“We are immensely proud to receive the AIA Justice Facilities Award for our work on the Cornelius F. Kiernan Judicial Center,” said Jeff Garriga, AIA, LEED AP+, Principal at Finegold Alexander Architects. “This recognition underscores our dedication to crafting spaces that seamlessly blend architectural ingenuity with environmental responsibility.”

Finegold Alexander has a vast portfolio of civic projects across the greater New England region, including the York Judicial Center in Biddeford, ME, the Fall River Justice Center in Fall River, the Massachusetts State House – Executive Offices of the Governor in Boston, and the Boston City Hall Council Chambers.  

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