United States Courthouse

Just before my visit, I attempted to figure out with my friends which courthouse was the “United States Courthouse” in Austin. There are a few others I had seen: dull, imposing monoliths in common twentieth century form for buildings of this type. This courthouse, however, was different: it was intriguing, sleek, and pleasing to the eye. Nestled in the center of downtown Austin, it blends perfectly into the increasingly modern skyline. But don’t let appearances fool you. On the surface, this building is inviting in that it appears less imposing than traditional courthouses, but I as I wandered the halls of the United States Courthouse, I felt the invisible presence of the government. Obviously I’m in a government building, but every feeling I had, the essence of the space, directly reflected ideals of the US government. The building presents an illusion of openness through the atrium and fenestration, but I was left feeling corralled and restricted in access. As large as the building was, most of it was restricted from the public eye—much like what we know about our government, we are presented with the illusion of transparency. I felt moderately uncomfortable and subtly controlled in an empty space.