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James O. Eastland US Courthouse

The James O. Eastland US Courthouse was designed by Emmett Hull and E.L. Malvaney and build between 1933 and 1934 (GSA). It was made available for redevelopment when the feds decamped to a newer and somewhat problematic building to the south designed by Hugh Hardy - an architect known for his work on the restorations of Radio City Music Hall, the New Victory and the New Amsterdam theatres in New York City.

Hardy's comments on his design in Jackson clearly reflect his background in public spaces, with a design ethos that is clearly and consciously opposite to that embodied by the Eastland Courthouse: "It has to be a welcoming experience for the Federal government to preside over the law. On the other hand, most of the people that go there are not happy...and so making a building that would receive people and make them feel welcome and open instead of... many courthouses, especially contemporary ones, work like mad to impress you with the majesty of the law, and they're very powerful, dominant. Our thought was to be much more lighthearted about all of that." (WNYC)

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