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Shreveport Federal Court House
The U.S. Shreveport Courthouse, at 300 Fannin Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, is a five-story building with 257,410 gross square feet. The courthouse has five courtrooms and seven judge's chambers and also houses other federal agencies such as the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court, U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Trustees, U.S. Probation, Senator Mary Landrieu's Office, Public Defender, Department of Labor, U.S. Bankruptcy, and GSA's Shreveport office.
The Shreveport Federal Courthouse received the Energy Star Award in 2000 and 2004, and was chosen as the 1997 International Office Building of the Year in the Government Building Category by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Its construction set the benchmark for other federal courthouses built throughout the United States - saving taxpayers millions of dollars. The building was built in 1993, designed by Architect KPS Group, Inc. of Shreveport, Louisiana, and is owned and operated by GSA.
The building's beauty is recognized by the sculpture “Justice Victorious” created by Raymond Kaskey. This sculpture is a winged figure of justice which becomes the support for stile of a sundial, making the passage of time. This art work is in the front plaza and entrance to the federal building, and has received the Shreveport Beautification Foundation Honor Award.
Originally the Shreveport Federal Building was located at 424 Texas Street. Construction on that building began in 1911 and finished by 1912, after removing the Customs house that was built years before. It was an Italianate-style building, which had four floors and a basement. Designed by government architect James K. Taylor, it was used for the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, and had one courtroom. This building remained a government building until 1974 when GSA moved its operation to the Joe D. Waggonner Federal Courthouse at 500 Fannin Street. This new location was a leased facility for government offices. In 1981, the city of Shreveport received possession of the federal building located at 424 Texas St. and converted it to a public library.
Last Reviewed 12/8/2008