Hidalgo County Courthouse

Introduction

As with many county courthouses throughout the country, population growth and technological advances have outpaced original facility designs. With its population growing at 95% faster than similarly sized cities, Edinburg, Texas, needed to address its seriously deficient 1950s courthouse and provide capacity and infrastructure for current needs and future growth. In early 2018, the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved the schematic design for the new courthouse replacement.

HDR and ERO Architects were tasked with designing a courthouse that would combine classic courthouse gestures with regional cultural characters indigenous to the Edinburg area. The design incorporates 330,000 square feet in a new seven-story facility accommodating 30 courtrooms, office spaces for district and county clerks, jury service and public defenders, and detention areas with central holding for over 270 defendants-in-custody. The county budgeted $150 million for the new facility which would be built on a grand square at the center of the City of Edinburg. The chosen site closes and diverts US Highway 281 to create an enlarged two-block downtown square coordinated with the City of Edinburg Downtown Master Plan. The courthouse project also includes a central utility plant planned within a separate building on the site, a single security screening area, secure parking for judges and elected officials, along with a loading dock area, parking, and a food court.

The  Story

Evoking a contemporary expression of the character, culture, heritage, and landscape unique to the Rio Grande River Valley, ERO was charged with the exterior of the building and combined the classical elements of courthouse architecture with native plant materials, a Talavera tile-inspired brise soleil made of water-jet cut metal scrim, and large scale porcelain panels.

When considering cladding options for the exterior, the design team noted a few considerations and installation concerns, and ultimately chose Crossville Porcelain Tile Panels by Laminam. A major advantage of using the tile panels is the weight compared to other cladding options. At nearly 3’ x 10’ in outer dimensions with only 3mm thickness, these panels are light enough in weight to be handled by fewer workers. This is important to note for the Hidalgo County Courthouse because the porcelain tile panels cover nearly 52,000 square feet of the expansive exterior. If the architects had specified natural stone, the project team would have faced more time-consuming challenges and safety issues.

The designers chose Crossville porcelain tile panels in the Oxide collection offering a subtle, metallic shimmer that blends beautifully with the water-jet cut metal scrim contributing to the modern and stylish look of the building’s exterior.

The panels not only offer a beautiful appearance for the building, but they will also be able to withstand the exterior weather elements. The panels are innately resistant to UV rays and are highly scratch-proof, making them resistant to deep abrasion. Also, the panels are eco-friendly, as the body of the tiles is comprised of natural raw materials, and the tile does not release toxins into the environment.