Commercial Architecture: Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility Tour

Having outgrown its previous space, Travis County formed a public/private partnership to construct a new Civil and Family Court Facility that better serves its constituents. Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the courthouse balances transparency and security to embrace the surrounding community while presiding as a symbol of justice. Thoughtful design, including a welcoming main entry, outdoor terraces, a self-help law center, and childcare facilities, seek to ease the stress of typical courthouse experiences. The site encourages community engagement, featuring spacious sidewalks, pedestrian benches, bike racks, and a public community plaza, all easily accessible by foot, bus, and bike. Reliable materials like locally-sourced limestone, sturdy leathers, and blackened steel give a warm and timeless appeal that references the Texas Hill Country

• 430,000 sf, 12 story courthouse facility
• 26 courtrooms
• Dedicated and appropriate spaces for child to testify
• Dedicated, separate, and safe victim waiting areas
• Centrally located, access from all parts of the County
• State-of-the-art Law Library and Self-Help center
• Space for attorney-client conferences
• Large multi-function room that can be used for public events
• Staggered every two levels, secure terraces with greenery and outdoor seating provide a soothing environment in which to decompress.
• Austin Energy Green Building Program (AEGB) three-star rating
• LEED Gold certification.

Awards:

• Austin Business Journal, Project of the Year – Overall Winner,  2024
• ULI Austin – Impact Awards, Most Influential Project, 2024
• Engineering News Record (ENR) Award of Merit, Best Projects Texas/Louisiana, 2024
• Associated General Contractors (AGC), 2023 Outstanding Construction Award – $150M, 2023

Capacity: no restriction at this time

Parking: Provided on site, within internal parking garage.

RSVP: All RSVPs to be returned by noon on May 12th. Access to this facility is restricted so individual RSVP is mandatory for parking and the tour.

Cost: $10 for members/$20 for non-members

CE Credit: 2LU (pending)

Tour Facilitators:

Luis Santi, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP

Design Director, Principal, Gensler

With more than 25 years of experience, Luis transferred from Gensler’s Washington, D.C. office to the firm’s Austin office in 2010 and has been extremely instrumental in elevating the quality of the firm’s work both in Texas and abroad ever since. He has worked on a variety of successful master planning, cultural, institutional, mixed use, commercial office, corporate interiors, and hospitality projects, continually demonstrating his ability to apply a thoughtful approach to every project, regardless of client goals or project constraints. Educated in Spain and Portugal and having practiced in those countries prior to moving to the U.S., Luis brings a unique understanding of culture, craft, and aesthetic to every project. Luis has a unique understanding of structure and form, and his work consistently shows a balance of beauty and precision.

Marion Jaume Willenska, NCIDQ, Fitwel Ambassador

Interior Designer, Associate, Gensler

With a professional journey that began at Gensler in 2018, Marion has become a key contributor to the Austin office, specializing in high-end 3D visualization, immersive VR walkthroughs, and Artificial Intelligence. Having worked on a diverse range of projects—including government buildings, athletic facilities, and corporate headquarters— she possesses a comprehensive understanding of the interior design process from initial programming through construction administration. Marion brings a unique global lens to every project, rooted in an international background that values cultural nuance and prioritizes the user experience. Her work consistently balances technical precision with a passion for storytelling, bringing complex design concepts to life for clients and teams alike.

Loretta Adams

CFCF Building Manager

With more than a decade of experience in public service, parks management, and operations leadership, Loretta Adams has built a career focused on facility management, community spaces, and team development. Originally from North Carolina and now a longtime Texas resident of 15 years, Loretta earned a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Franklin University and has developed extensive expertise across parks operations, athletics, and public facilities management.

Loretta began her public service career with Travis County Parks, where she spent five years overseeing operations involving swimming pools, athletic fields, CDL training, and heavy equipment operation. Her strong operational background and leadership skills led to a position with the City of Austin, where she managed cemetery operations before advancing to oversee all North Austin parks for six years.

Returning to Travis County, Loretta became the county’s first Building Manager, continuing her commitment to operational excellence, public service, and team leadership. Throughout her career, she has combined hands-on technical expertise with strong organizational and personnel management skills, earning a reputation for reliability, adaptability, and dedication to community infrastructure.

Outside of work, Loretta enjoys kayaking, camping, traveling, attending concerts, and working with her hands on practical projects. She is also a proud dog owner with three dogs who are an important part of her daily life.