Framingham, MA – Finegold Alexander Architects and Dimeo Construction Company joined local and state officials, project partners, and community members on May 8 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Framingham Regional Justice Center. The 116,000sf civic cornerstone will consolidate multiple courts and legal services into a single, modern courthouse in downtown Framingham.
“Today’s groundbreaking is the result of years of collaboration, advocacy, and persistence to deliver a modern regional justice center that meets the needs of Framingham and the entire MetroWest community,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This new courthouse will expand access to justice, strengthen public safety, and bring new economic energy to downtown Framingham.”
Located along Union Avenue on the site of the former Thomas Danforth Building, the 3-story justice center will bring together the Middlesex County District Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court, Family and Probate Court, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office, and additional legal resources under one roof. It is designed to improve accessibility to justice while strengthening connections to public transportation and the surrounding downtown district.
Finegold Alexander Architects is leading the design of the all-electric courthouse in collaboration with the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), The Massachusetts Trial Courts Dimeo Construction Company, and the broader project team. The $174 million facility is being designed to meet DCAMM’s sustainability goals and Executive Order 594 through the use of ground source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels, high-performance mechanical systems, and lower embodied carbon materials, and is targeting LEED Silver certification.
Designed to embody both a dignified, civic presence and the human scale, the courthouse responds thoughtfully to the surrounding urban fabric of downtown Framingham. Carefully detailed brick façades reference the architectural character of the neighborhood with subtly faceted and undulating surfaces designed to create a dynamic pedestrian experience on both the interior and the exterior. Energy efficient triple-paned windows provide natural daylight and views, which, along with integrated public art, are designed to foster a calming environment for the public and the staff. Elements of the former Danforth Building will also be incorporated into the project, honoring the site’s layered history within the community.
Construction is anticipated to be completed in summer 2029.
