Project:
1st District Court of Appeal, Tallahassee

Budget: $85,000

Deadline: 5 pm, Friday, February 19, 2010

One of five courts of appeal in Florida, the 1st District Court of Appeal is based in the state capitol of Tallahassee. With jurisdiction over 32 of the state's 67 counties, this court serves the entire panhandle of the state from Escambia to Duval Counties and extending down into the center of the state to Alachua and Levy Counties (see http://www.1dca.org/History.html for map).

District courts of appeal hear appeals from final judgments or orders of trial courts in cases that either are not directly appealable to the Supreme Court or are not taken from a county court to a circuit court. They also review certain non-final orders, have the power to review most actions taken by state agencies in carrying out the duties of the executive branch of government and can issue all necessary writs necessary to the complete exercise of their jurisdiction.

As a general rule, decisions of the district courts of appeal represent the final appellate review of litigated cases. A person who is displeased with a district court's express decision may ask for review in the Supreme Court of Florida or in the Supreme Court of the United States, but neither tribunal is required to accept the case for further review and the overwhelming number of requests are in fact denied.

Although the number of judges on the panels which hear each case remains at three, the total number of judges on the Court has grown steadily through the years. There are presently fifteen judges on the Court. 

The new headquarters of the 1st District Court has a traditional design of two multi-level wings centered with a dome and fronted by columns.

Inside, on the main entrance level, the open rotunda lobby rises up through two floors. Eight columns support the circular balcony of the second floor.

On the third floor, eight columns are set on square pedestals and rise up to support the circular base of the dome. At this level, the rotundra soars up to a height of 54 feet.

The main courtrooms are on the third floor with secondary courtrooms on the second level. Spacious rooms on the first floor will serve the Court for meetings and events; these will also be made available to other state agencies and community groups.

See First & Third Floor Lobby Plans & Elevations

Sites for Artwork

There are eight niches designed into the circular walls of the first floor lobby and eight niches in the circular walls of the lobby on the third floor level. The Art Selection Committee would like to fill these sixteen niches with 2-dimensional artwork through purchase and commission.

1. First floor niches

The Committee would like to purchase existing photography of the north Florida region to be displayed in the first floor niches (see the link in the first paragraph for a map of the area covered by the 1st District Court).

The Committee will select either all black & white photographs or all color photographs for the niches. They might select eight images by one artist or they could select images by several artists. The selected artist(s) may be asked to reprint their images so that all frames can be a consistant and uniform size that will comfortably fit the niches.

See plans and rendering of the first floor niches.

2. Third floor niches

As the third floor is the main courtroom floor, the Committee will allocate a majority of their budget to commission 2-dimensional artwork (painting, watercolor, prints, etc.) for the eight niches on this level. They will choose one, two or four artists from whom to commission artwork.

The preferred theme for the commissioned artwork is images of north Florida: landscapes, cityscapes, and/or general scenes of life and activities of the region. Artists are asked to send examples of their previous or existing work that relate to this theme so the Committee can make their selections based on the artists' style, technique and typical topics.

The artist (or artists) selected for commission will be requested to create sketches, drawings or digital images of what they propose to create and present them for review in late April. The final eight artworks for the third level will need to be completed, delivered and installed by early November 2010.

See plans, elevation and rendering of the third floor niches.

Back to Call to Artists page.

Back to main Art in State Buildings page.