The United States Courthouse in Fresno adds a new landmark to the downtown and enhances the cultural environment of the city as a whole. A major public garden, large multi-use lobby, café, library, and other amenities make the courthouse an integral part of urban and community life. The context of the greater Central Valley and the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains are reflected in the bold sculpting of the mass of the building and the use of a unique system of textured precast concrete panels....