High Court Building Project

The High Court’s Building represents a lively edifice in downtown Riyadh since 1421H (2001). It is an integrated, functional and architectural addition to Qasr Al-Hukm District, the living heart of Riyadh city.

Location

The High Court Building falls in Qasr Al-Hukm District, the heart of Riyadh city, and covers an area of 29893 m². It is bordered by Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Street in the north, Al-Faryan Street in the west, and Sheikh Abdullatif bin Ibrahim Al Alsheikh Street in the east.

The first phase of the Qasr Al-Hukm Development program started in mid-1390’s (Hijri calendar) and included Riyadh Principality, Alriyadh Municipality, and Police of Riyadh Province. The second phase included Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, Qasr Al-Hukm Palace and its surrounding squares, public plazas, roads as well as some old gates and parts of the old wall of Riyadh. The second phase completed in 1412H (1991).

Later, the RCRC commenced on the third phase of Qasr Al-Hukm District Development Program, within which the RCRC provided the area with the necessary public services and utilities, improved the area’s conditions, and encouraged investment there. The projects included in this phase were carried out by public and private contractors. The High Court Building was included in this phase and its functions and design were developed in coordination with the specialists in the Ministry of Justice and the High Court in Riyadh.

Design Concept

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City designed the High Court Building taking into consideration a number of factors including the necessity of maintaining the impact a court building should have on the litigators and those involved in legal processes. The main purpose of the design was to embody the sublime value of justice.

Therefore, the design featured parallel and equal sections symbolizing justice. The gate-like giant building constitutes a link between Riyadh downtown and Qasr Al-Hukm District and embodies continuity of the traditional architectural styles.

Architectural and Operational Characteristics

Due to the project’s architectural and functional requirements as well as the nature of its neighborhood, vertical expansion was favored to facilitate movement of the litigators and the staff members. Also, this approach helped in reserving sufficient arenas and plazas to serve the neighboring area. The façade is covered with stones and equipped with vertical windows to provide the offices with sunlight and save power. The middle section of the building is covered with glass to provided the open halls and auditoriums with sunlight too. This section of the building is deep enough to ensure maximum protection from sunrays and temperature fluctuation.

The building is equipped with advanced firefighting system that uses both water and gas, but the latter is only used at the archive section. The systems also include surveillance cameras, central call network, and an integrated control system for lighting, air conditioning, alarm, etc.

The building is also provided with an advanced computer network, and thermal storage system that saves about 50% of the power required for air conditioning.

Actually, the building serves as a gate between the open areas in the south, and Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Street and Qasr Al-Hukm District without sacrificing its functional, security or operational requirements. The outer areas are afforested and equipped with pedestrian walkways and seating areas to accommodate the heavy movement and withstand the climatic conditions.

The 1500-m²mosque was placed at the project’s western border to serve the neighboring districts and the passengers who use the adjacent roads. The mosque can serve about 600 people in addition to a prayer area for women.

The project also includes a public parking area that can accommodate more than 130 cars, and a basement used as a parking lot for the staff members with a capacity up to 300 cars.

Movement Inside The Court Building

Work in courts and nature of the litigation process require intensive movement. Therefore, vertical expansion was favored in order to shorten the distances walked by both employees and citizens, and facilitate centralization of, and access to, service offices around an axis of ten elevators.

The various types of the beneficiaries required accurate measures to facilitate movement inside the building. For example, the judges and senior officials need some privacy, while others require special security measures to ensure privacy and secrecy. Therefore, all the elements necessary for serving the average citizens are placed in the ground floor and the first floor.

The Functional Units

The 14-story building will house 32 legal offices (courtrooms) and five court circles in addition to the president office, treasury house, and administrative offices. The building will also house a library and a conference hall. The basement has a multipurpose hall enough for 200 people in addition to the guardrooms.

The legal offices and courtrooms consist of a hall for the legal proceedings, a judge’s office, an office for the clerks, a waiting room for male prisoners and another for female prisoners, a waiting area for men and another for women, a secretary office and reception section.