Meandering Around Downtown
I was watching an episode of The Rockford Files starring James Garner the other day. It was one of the first episodes he did in like 1974 and the case brought him to the Clark County Court House in Las Vegas. The courthouse was a small Spanish-style building suitable for a population of roughly a hundred thousand people or so. Now, there’s over 2 million people in the area and that number is reflected in the size of the new courthouses and transportation networks in the downtown area. Here’s some of the structures you’ll see as you meander around downtown.
I was watching an episode of The Rockford Files starring James Garner the other day. It was one of the first episodes he did in like 1974 and the case brought him to the Clark County Court House in Las Vegas. The courthouse was a small Spanish-style building suitable for a population of roughly a hundred thousand people or so. Now, there’s over 2 million people in the area and that number is reflected in the size of the new courthouses and transportation networks in the downtown area. Here’s some of the structures you’ll see as you meander around downtown.
Bonneville Transit Center
This is a good place to remember for those relying on public transportation to get around in Vegas. It’s located at the corner of E. Bonneville and S. Casino Center Blvd just south of the Arts District. You can get almost everywhere in the Las Vegas metropolitan area from here and it’s only about a fifteen minute walk from the hostels.
Bonneville Transit Center
This is a good place to remember for those relying on public transportation to get around in Vegas. It’s located at the corner of E. Bonneville and S. Casino Center Blvd just south of the Arts District. You can get almost everywhere in the Las Vegas metropolitan area from here and it’s only about a fifteen minute walk from the hostels.
Bonneville Transit Center
This is a good place to remember for those relying on public transportation to get around in Vegas. It’s located at the corner of E. Bonneville and S. Casino Center Blvd just south of the Arts District. You can get almost everywhere in the Las Vegas metropolitan area from here and it’s only about a fifteen minute walk from the hostels.
Downtown Architecture
Las Vegas, Clark County, and the State of Nevada have built a number of buildings in the downtown core area as they attempt to keep up with the governmental and court demands of the burgeoning population. This part of downtown is generally very quiet, but I have come across musicians performing on stage in different areas on weekends during parts of the year. There are delicatessens and eateries catering to office workers downtown and can be a nice affordable places to stop for breakfast or lunch on your way to Fremont Street.
Supreme Court of Nevada/Nevada Court of Appeals
The Neo-Classical structure is reminiscent of court buildings built during the Roman Age. Opened in 2017, the 72-seat courtroom on the second level is modeled after the U.S. Supreme Court’s first courtroom. The building is Gold-Level Certification LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) compliant.
Las Vegas Municipal Courthouse
Opened in 2021, the commanding four-story blue-glass façade with leaning pillars courthouse houses six judges, their offices, and a customer service center. It was designed to meet LEED Silver-level Certification requirements.
Foley Federal Building/United States Courthouse
Las Vegas Municipal Courthouse
Built in 1964, the International and brutalist-styled structure was designed by Zick and Sharp architects. It incorporates bullet and bomb resistant materials to protect those inside in case of a terrorist attack.
Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building
This CannonDesign building has a primarily glass façade to cerate an impression of openness and accessibility to increase the interaction between the courthouse and community and to encourage the exploration of the courthouse. Opened in 2000, the buildings-style serves as a strong design precedent for large-scale public buildings.
Las Vegas City Hall
The 309,000 sq. foot building replaced the old city hall in 2012. The front of the building is reminiscent of Colorado River Water flowing over the Hoover Dam. The LEED-gold certified building has photovoltaic trees generating electricity for use in the building. The LEED lighting display on the façade generate different color display lights at night.
5th Street Schoolhouse
Originally named the Las Vegas Grammar School. the building was designed by Orville L. Clark and George K. Thompson. Built in 1936, it is reflective of the Mission/Spanish Revival-style. The building currently houses the University of Nevada Fine Arts Program, Downtown Design Center for the School of Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Nevada School of Music, and Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs.
Supreme Court of Nevada/Nevada Court of Appeals
The Neo-Classical structure is reminiscent of court buildings built during the Roman Age. Opened in 2017, the 72-seat courtroom on the second level is modeled after the U.S. Supreme Court’s first courtroom. The building is Gold-Level Certification LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) compliant.
Las Vegas Municipal Courthouse
Opened in 2021, the commanding four-story blue-glass façade with leaning pillars courthouse houses six judges, their offices, and a customer service center. It was designed to meet LEED Silver-level Certification requirements.
Foley Federal Building/United States Courthouse
Built in 1964, the International and brutalist-styled structure was designed by Zick and Sharp architects. It incorporates bullet and bomb resistant materials to protect those inside in case of a terrorist attack.
Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building
This CannonDesign building has a primarily glass façade to cerate an impression of openness and accessibility to increase the interaction between the courthouse and community and to encourage the exploration of the courthouse. Opened in 2000, the buildings-style serves as a strong design precedent for large-scale public buildings.
Las Vegas City Hall
The 309,000 sq. foot building replaced the old city hall in 2012. The front of the building is reminiscent of Colorado River Water flowing over the Hoover Dam. The LEED-gold certified building has photovoltaic trees generating electricity for use in the building. The LEED lighting display on the façade generate different color display lights at night.
5th Street Schoolhouse
Originally named the Las Vegas Grammar School. the building was designed by Orville L. Clark and George K. Thompson. Built in 1936, it is reflective of the Mission/Spanish Revival-style. The building currently houses the University of Nevada Fine Arts Program, Downtown Design Center for the School of Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Nevada School of Music, and Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs.