Metropolitan Courthouse

The Metropolitan Courthouse is a courthouse in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, housing the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. The building is located on the northwest corner of 4th Street and Lomas Boulevard in an area known as the Courthouse District. The courthouse rises 175 feet (53 m) and has nine stories.[2] Designed by DCSW Architects in a contemporary Art Deco style, it features a three-story rotunda finished with granite, marble, and travertine[4] and a 36-foot (11 m) sculpture of the scales of justice.[1]

Metropolitan Courthouse
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeOffice
Location401 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Coordinates35°5′30″N 106°39′04″W
Construction started2001
Completed2003
Cost$83 million[1]
Height
Roof53.3 m (175 ft)[2]
Technical details
Floor count9
Floor area244,000 sq ft [3]
Lifts/elevators10
Design and construction
Architect(s)DCSW Architects
Main contractorBradbury Stamm Construction

Ground was broken on the project in May 2001[3] and the building was topped out the following June.[5] The courthouse opened for business on January 20, 2004, replacing the old Metro Courthouse at 4th and Roma.[6]

From 2005 to 2009, the Metro Courthouse was at the center of a high-profile fraud investigation, during which allegations emerged that a group of conspirators had siphoned off $4.2 million from the courthouse construction project in a scheme described by the Albuquerque Journal as "breathtaking in scope and star power."[7] Eight people were eventually named as defendants in the case, including the former president pro tempore of the New Mexico State Senate and a former mayor of Albuquerque. The investigation ended with six of the accused pleading guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud, while the other two pleaded guilty to misprision of felony.[8]

See also

References
  1. McKay, Dan (March 31, 2007). "Courthouse Has History Of Troubles - Cost Overruns Among Previous Problems". Albuquerque Journal. NM. p. A1.
  2. "Metropolitan Courthouse". Emporis. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  3. Ramirez, Chris (October 22, 2002). "Courthouse Work an Inside Job". Albuquerque Journal. NM. p. D2.
  4. "About Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court". Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  5. Velasco, Diane (June 17, 2002). "Steelworkers 'top out' the courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. NM.
  6. "Court Doors Open Today". Albuquerque Journal. NM. January 20, 2004. p. D1.
  7. Gallagher, Mike; Sandlin, Scott (March 30, 2007). "Accused of $4.2 million ripoff". Albuquerque Journal. NM. p. A1.
  8. Gallagher, Mike; Sandlin, Scott (July 9, 2009). "The Final Chapter - Sentencing of Courthouse Architect Ends Corruption Case". Albuquerque Journal. NM. p. A1.
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