United States Courthouse (Austin, Texas, 1936)

Historic structure in Austin, Texas

United States historic place

Austin U.S. Courthouse

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The courthouse's south facade in 2011

Austin U.S. Courthouse

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Austin U.S. Courthouse

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Interactive map showing the location of Austin U.S. Courthouse

Location| 200 West Eighth St.
Austin, Texas
Coordinates| 30°16′13″N 97°44′36″W﻿ / ﻿30.27028°N 97.74333°W﻿ / 30.27028; -97.74333
Area| 1.4 acres (0.57 ha)
Built| 1936 (1936)
Built by| Algernon Blair
Architect| Louis A. Simon, Charles Henry Page, Kenneth Franzheim
Architectural style| Modern Movement, Moderne
NRHP reference No.| 01000432[1]
Added to NRHP| April 25, 2001

The Austin United States Courthouse is a historic former federal courthouse in downtown Austin, Texas. Built between 1935 and 1936, the building exemplifies Depression-era Moderne architecture, while Art Moderne and Art Deco finishes characterize the interior. It housed the Austin division of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and other judicial offices until 2012, when a new federal courthouse building was completed. Since 2016 the building has been owned by Travis County, and it has housed the county probate courts since 2020. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

## History

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Austin's previous U.S. courthouse was built between 1877 and 1881, but by the 1920s the federal district court had come to need additional space. After considering expanding the existing structure, authorities instead selected a new site for a larger building. In June 1934, Congress passed a measure appropriating $415,000 for the construction of the new U.S. courthouse in Austin, with some funding coming from the Public Works Administration. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 16, 1935, and the building was dedicated and opened to the public by mayor Tom Miller on September 22, 1936.[2]

In addition to its main tenant (the Austin division of the District Court for the Western District of Texas), the Austin U.S. courthouse of 1936 has held the offices of the Collector of Internal Revenue, the Referee in Bankruptcy (later the U.S. Bankruptcy Court), the U.S. Weather Bureau, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and other judicial functions related to the U.S. Department of Justice such as the U.S. Marshal's Office. It has also housed U.S. representatives and senators, including Lyndon B. Johnson.[2]

By the 2000s the tenants of the courthouse were once again running out of space, and funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were used to construct another even larger federal courthouse building for Austin. The new courthouse was completed and opened to the public in December 2012, at which point all federal courts and offices in the old building were closed. At the time it was not clear what the fate of the building would be.[3]

### Post-closure

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In 2013 the Austin Bar Foundation asked the GSA to lease the old courthouse to hold several local legal programs, but the GSA declined, saying that it intended to "use the courthouse for judiciary-related services that were not able to fit into the new courthouse," most likely the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the local members of the New Orleans–based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had been operating in a separate office building.[4] However, no new federal courts ever occupied the facility.

Instead, in November 2015 the GSA announced that it had begun to consider the old courthouse for disposal proceedings as an excess asset.[5] The facility and the land it occupies were designated as surplus property in May 2016, after which Travis County began talks with the GSA about using the building for additional county court space, in part because of the recent failure of a bond measure to raise funds to replace the aging Travis County Courthouse.[6] The City of Austin had considered pursuing the site as well, but it ultimately decided to support the county's bid for the courthouse; other nongovernmental organizations also applied to the GSA for the use of the building, including some hoping to use the facility for services to assist the homeless.[7]

At a press conference on December 29, 2016, officials from Travis County and the federal judiciary and local U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett announced that ownership of the courthouse had been transferred to Travis County. The county budgeted $28 million to bring the structure up to current building codes and adapt it for use as the new site of the county probate courts.[8] After a seventeen-month renovation, staff from the probate courts and county clerk's offices moved into the building in October 2020, and the facility was rededicated on November 18, 2020.[9]

## Architecture

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The Austin U.S. Courthouse is a four-story steel-and-concrete building clad with cream-colored limestone. Its design exemplifies the PWA Moderne architectural style of many Great Depression-era public buildings, with its symmetrical rectangular form, recessed vertical window bays, and smooth stonework exterior decorated with neoclassical flourishes, stylized eagles and geometric detailing. The building was designed by local architect Charles Henry Page (well known for his work on other Texas courthouses of the period), together with New York architect Kenneth Franzheim. The design work was overseen by Louis A. Simon, the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury Department. The construction contractor was Algernon Blair of Montgomery, Alabama. The W. E. Simpson Company of San Antonio served as the structural engineer, and R. F. Taylor of Houston was the mechanical engineer.[2]

### Exterior

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The main entry is in the south facade, where gray granite steps lead to four bronze doors beneath a central massing that projects from the front and top of the building. A large carved eagle with a shield near the peak recreates the Great Seal of the United States, below which is inscribed "UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE" flanked by raised five-pointed stars. A fluted horizontal band separates the windows of the first and second floors, while the higher windows are joined in recessed vertical window bays with decorative cast-iron spandrels between. Pilasters run vertically between window bays from the second floor to the fourth. An incised horizontal band wraps the building near the roofline, and the structure's square corners gradually chamfer as they approach the roof.[2]

### Interior

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The building's interior exhibits Art Moderne and Art Deco finishes and detailing. The lobbies and corridors have marble and plaster walls, geometrically patterned terrazzo floors, and plaster ceilings with white bronze molding. The ceremonial courtroom is a double-height chamber with wall paneling of light bookmatched wood set in darker wood squares and a coffered plaster ceiling. Light fixtures range from white-bronze-and-glass chandeliers to wall sconces with Art Deco detailing.[2]

### Gallery

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* Exterior details in 2013

* Elevator lobby

* Hall detail

* Light fixture

* Lobby

* Courtroom door

* Courtroom

* Courtroom eagle

* Stairs

* Stairs from above

## See also

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* List of United States federal courthouses in Texas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Travis County, Texas

## References

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1. ^ "National Register Information System – Austin U.S. Courthouse (#01000432)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. ^ a b c d e "U.S. Courthouse, Austin, TX". General Services Administration. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
3. ^ Castillo, Juan (December 3, 2012). "New federal courthouse opens in Austin". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
4. ^ Herman, Ken (August 8, 2013). "Herman: The old courthouse's new purpose?". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
5. ^ Herman, Ken (November 16, 2015). "Herman: Feds ready to 'dispose' of historic old downtown courthouse?". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
6. ^ Findell, Elizabeth (May 24, 2016). "Travis County moves to sell proposed courthouse site, find new options". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
7. ^ Herman, Ken (June 6, 2016). "Herman: New use for the old federal courthouse?". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
8. ^ King, Michael (December 29, 2016). "Travis County Catches a Judicial Break". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
9. ^ Aldridge, Olivia (October 7, 2020). "Travis County preps to open new probate courts location". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved December 14, 2021.

## Attribution

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*  This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Courthouse, Austin, TX. General Services Administration.

* v
* t
* e

Downtown Austin

Areas|

* Bremond Block Historic District
* Congress Avenue Historic District
* Rainey Street Historic District
* Red River Cultural District
* Sixth Street

Civic|

* Austin Central Fire Station 1
* Austin City Hall
* Austin Convention Center
* O. Henry Hall
* Texas Governor's Mansion
* Texas State Capitol
* Travis County Courthouse
* United States Courthouse (1936)
* United States Courthouse (2012)
* William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building

Education|

| Primary and secondary
schools|

* Austin ISD
* former Austin HS (now ACC Rio Grande)
* Headwaters School (former Khabele School)

|

Colleges and universities|

* Austin Community College (ACC) Rio Grande campus

Skyscrapers
and complexes|

* 360 Condominiums
* The Ashton
* Austin Centre
* The Austonian
* Bank of America Center
* Block 21
* Moody Theater
* W Austin Hotel and Residences
* Block 185
* Fairmont Austin
* Fifth & West
* Frost Bank Tower
* Hilton Austin Hotel
* Indeed Tower
* The Independent
* Norwood Tower
* The Northshore
* One American Center
* One Eleven Congress
* San Jacinto Center
* Scarbrough Building
* Sixth and Guadalupe
* Spring
* Westgate Tower

Parks|

* Auditorium Shores
* Brush Square Park
* Lady Bird Lake
* Republic Square
* Wooldridge Park
* Zilker Park

Other landmarks|

* Buford Tower
* Cathedral of Saint Mary
* Central Christian Church
* The Contemporary Austin
* Driskill Hotel
* Gethsemane Lutheran Church
* Lundberg Bakery
* Paramount Theatre
* Liberty Lunch (closed)
* William Sidney Porter House
* Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
* Seaholm Power Plant

CapMetro Rail stations|

* Downtown

This list is incomplete.

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Texas

Archaeological|

* Andrew M. Cox Ranch Site
* Levi Rock Shelter
* Smith Rock Shelter

Business|

* Arnold Bakery
* Austin Daily Tribune Building
* Blue Bonnet Court
* Brown Building
* Cambridge Tower
* Driskill Hotel
* Goodman Building
* Green Pastures
* Haehnel Building
* Lundberg Bakery
* Millett Opera House
* Norwood Tower
* Paramount Theatre
* J. P. Schneider Store
* Scholz Garten
* Victory Grill
* Westgate Tower

Civic|

* All Saints' Episcopal Church
* Anderson Stadium
* Austin Central Fire Station 1
* Baker Center
* Austin Fire Drill Tower
* Austin History Center
* Austin State Hospital
* Battle Hall
* Camp Mabry
* George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
* Central Christian Church
* Elisabet Ney Museum
* French Legation
* General Land Office Building
* Gethsemane Lutheran Church
* Dewitt C. Greer State Highway Building
* Hyde Park Presbyterian Church
* Lamar Boulevard Bridge
* Littlefield House
* Montopolis Bridge
* Moonlight Towers
* O. Henry Hall
* Oakwood Cemetery
* Royal Arch Masonic Lodge
* James E. Rudder State Office Building
* St. David's Episcopal Church
* St. Edward's University Main Building
* St. Mary's Cathedral
* Scottish Rite Dormitory
* Seaholm Power Plant
* Texas Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters
* Texas Governor's Mansion
* Texas State Capitol
* Texas State Cemetery
* Third Street Railroad Trestle
* Town Lake Gazebo
* United States Courthouse (1936)
* University Baptist Church
* University Junior High School
* Anthony and Louise Viaer Alumni Hall
* Wesley United Methodist Church
* West Fifth Street Bridge
* West Sixth Street Bridge

Districts|

* Bremond Block Historic District
* Clarksville Historic District
* Congress Avenue Historic District
* Hyde Park Historic District
* Little Campus
* Moore's Crossing Historic District
* Old West Austin Historic District
* Rainey Street Historic District
* Shadow Lawn Historic District
* Sixth Street Historic District
* Swedish Hill Historic District
* Travis Heights-Fairview Park Historic District
* West Line Historic District
* Willow–Spence Streets Historic District

Private|

* Aynesworth–Wright House
* Judge Robert Lynn Batts House
* Genaro P. and Carolina Briones House
* Brizendine House
* Carrington–Covert House
* Daniel H. and William T. Caswell Houses
* Frank M. and Annie G. Covert House
* Cox–Craddock House
* J. Frank Dobie House
* Fischer House
* Granger House and The Perch
* Hildreth–Flanagan–Heierman House
* Henry Hirshfeld House and Cottage
* A. J. Jernigan House
* Keith House
* Laguna Gloria
* Peter and Clotilde Shipe Mansbendel House
* Mayfield–Gutsch Estate
* McKinney Homestead
* Millett Opera House
* Neill–Cochran House
* Oliphant–Walker House
* Page–Gilbert House
* Perry Estate–St. Mary's Academy
* William Sidney Porter House
* Louis and Mathilde Reuter House
* Roberts Clinic
* Robinson–Macken House
* Sheeks–Robertson House
* Col. Monroe M. Shipe House
* Smith–Marcuse–Lowry House
* Southgate–Lewis House
* Wahrenberger House
* Woodlawn
* Goodall Wooten House
* Worrell–Ettlinger House
* Ziller House

Recreational|

* Barton Springs
* Deep Eddy Pool
* Lions Municipal Golf Course
* Mount Bonnell
* Wooldridge Park
* Zilker Park

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