Photos: Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Appellate Courthouse in Sunnyvale

SUNNYVALE—Justices and court staff from the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District hosted a special groundbreaking ceremony on August 5 to officially celebrate the start of construction of a new courthouse in Sunnyvale.

Attendees comprised California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, appellate court justices, superior court judges, attorneys, representatives from various local justice partners and legislative offices, and state and local officials.


Full-size photos and captions from the dedication ceremony can also be seen on Flickr

Upgraded Courthouse Will Improve Services to the Public
The new courthouse will improve safety and security with visitor security screening and internal circulation that maintains separate zones for the public and justices and court staff. The new building will also provide more adequate space in the entrance and public waiting areas, service counter, clerk’s office, and mediation rooms. On-site parking will be available for court users, including justices, court staff, and the public.

Building to Be Energy Efficient
The building’s sustainability features are expected to satisfy the California Energy Code and qualify it for a LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance “green” buildings. The courthouse’s sustainability features will include an all-electric building design, solar energy generation, electric vehicle chargers, drought-tolerant landscaping, efficient irrigation and plumbing systems, and energy-efficient lighting and building systems.

Statewide Court Facilities Program
The Judicial Council supports the court facilities of California's Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and trial courts by providing a broad range of services. These include facility planning, design and construction, facility operations management, environmental compliance and sustainability, real estate services and asset management, and emergency planning and security coordination.

Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 39 new courthouse projects and another 14 projects are underway and in various stages.

Learn more about the state’s courthouse construction projects