Federal Courthouse (Buffalo)

Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse
Federal Courthouse, in Buffalo, NY
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Courthouse
Architectural style	Contemporary modern
Location	2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY, United States
Coordinates	42°53′15″N 78°52′42″W / 42.8875953°N 78.8784229°W / 42.8875953; -78.8784229Coordinates: 42°53′15″N 78°52′42″W / 42.8875953°N 78.8784229°W / 42.8875953; -78.8784229
Construction started	October, 2007
Completed	November, 2011
Inaugurated	May 4, 2012
Cost	US$ 137 million
Height
Tip	255 ft (77.72 m)
Roof	200 ft (61 m)
Technical details
Floor count	10
Floor area	284,000 sq ft (26,400 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Kohn Pedersen Fox
Developer	US General Services Administration (GSA)
Structural engineer	Weidlinger Associates
Main contractor	Mascaro Construction Company LLP

The Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse is a U.S. Federal courthouse located in Buffalo, New York. The building occupies a full block of Delaware Avenue at Niagara Square, directly across from the Statler Towers and adjacent to Buffalo City Hall. The building features secure indoor parking for 54 vehicles, a glass entry pavilion that has all 4,536 words of the United States Constitution etched into the glass, and is topped off by a glass enclosure meant to resemble a glowing lantern when illuminated.

The courthouse replaced a block of structures previously occupying the site, the most notable being the 1927 Erlanger theater building built by Statler Hotels.

Although expected to be opened by July 2010, construction of the building had been held back a year following concerns regarding the glass panel façade and a moisture problem. Federal officials opened the courthouse in November 2011. Upon completion, the building was the most expensive government building in the history of Western New York. The building replaced the Michael J. Dillon Courthouse as Buffalo's primary federal courthouse, and is currently home to the U.S. District Court, Court of Appeals, U.S. Probation, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Attorney and GSA. The building was designed and constructed to achieve a LEED-NC Gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council.

The courthouse pavilion lobby contains monumental colored glass panels designed by Buffalo-area native Robert Mangold, a major figure in the geometric abstraction movement. The building won the 2011 Award for Design and Manufacturing Excellence from the Architectural Precast Association.

In December, 2011 Congressman Brian Higgins introduced a bill, naming the courthouse for Robert H. Jackson, the only Western New Yorker to serve as Supreme Court Justice. The bill H.R.3556 was voted on and approved on July 23, 2012, and became law on October 5 2012. The Jackson Courthouse name on the building was unveiled at a ceremony on September 30, 2013.