Overview
The new Commonwealth Courts Building represents a landmark investment in Virginia’s judicial system and the continued evolution of Richmond’s historic Capitol Square. As part of a multidisciplinary team led by Baskervill and Fentress Architects, Timmons Group provided landscape architecture and civil engineering services for the design of the building site and surrounding public realm, helping shape a civic destination that reflects the significance of Virginia’s highest courts.
Located on a prominent urban block bounded by Bank, 9th, and 10th Streets, the project required careful consideration of historic viewsheds, accessibility, security, multimodal circulation, and the architectural character of Capitol Square. Timmons Group guided the site design to preserve and enhance key visual connections to the Virginia State Capitol while creating a cohesive landscape framework that incorporates native plant communities, expanded urban tree canopy, high-quality paving and site furnishings, and thoughtfully integrated lighting.
A defining feature of the project is the creation of a signature public plaza along Bank Street, extending the civic presence of the courthouse beyond the building itself and strengthening connections to the surrounding urban fabric. Through the integration of elegant landscape design, accessible terraces and gathering spaces, and context-sensitive material selections, the project establishes a dignified and welcoming setting for the new home of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals. The result is a timeless civic landscape that honors Richmond’s history while serving the needs of the Commonwealth for generations to come.
