The Legal Intelligencer has reported that the First Judicial District's request to add another story to the Philadelphia family courthouse has been approved. The FJD claims that the additional space is needed to accommodate both the domestic relations and juvenile divisions at a single site. John Gerbner, the courthouse architect, reported that the building would be at capacity without the added space. The new story will allow for future expansion.
The courthouse's future neighbors had objected to the additional story as it would block the view of surrounding buildings. With this in mind, the city's Art Commission has held its approval of the building's “penthouse” which will contain the courthouse's mechanical equipment until a compromise can be reached between the FJD and the neighbors.
