The history of the rugged landscape of Far West Texas is inscribed in its passageways. The largest city, El Paso, gets its name from the historic Spanish mission, El Paso del Norte. It was the point marking passage from South to North, while the Rio Grande River cuts up from there through the mountains, marking a transition from East to West. For the new Federal Courthouse on the edge of downtown El Paso, architecture firm Antoine Predock drew inspiration from this rich history and the surrounding natural beauty. A grand “passageway” leads from downtown through the building’s two main structures, with views of the impressive Franklin peaks in the distance. All throughout their design, the architects at Antoine Predock worked to reference both the geology and history of the area by working with its natural colors, textures, and materials. One structure of the building’s two main pieces is made of copper, in reference to a local smelter, and the other is crafted out of Texas limestone. In order to achieve this specific aesthetic while maintaining the practical features necessary for a hot desert climate, Antoine Predock architects turned to a Fabricoil™ architectural coiled wire fabric system, which utilizes an innovative ...
The history of the rugged landscape of Far West Texas is inscribed in its passageways. The largest city, El Paso, gets its name from the historic Spanish mission, El Paso del Norte. It was the point marking passage from South to North, while the Rio Grande River cuts up from there through the mountains, marking a transition from East to West. For the new Federal Courthouse on the edge of downtown El Paso, architecture firm Antoine Predock drew inspiration from this rich history and the surrounding natural beauty. A grand “passageway” leads from downtown through the building’s two main structures, with views of the impressive Franklin peaks in the distance. All throughout their design, the architects at Antoine Predock worked to reference both the geology and history of the area by working with its natural colors, textures, and materials. One structure of the building’s two main pieces is made of copper, in reference to a local smelter, and the other is crafted out of Texas limestone. In order to achieve this specific aesthetic while maintaining the practical features necessary for a hot desert climate, Antoine Predock architects turned to a Fabricoil™ architectural coiled wire fabric system, which utilizes an innovative ...