New York State Supreme Court Building – County Courthouse
The New York State Supreme Court Building at 60 Centre Street is one of the most imposing Neoclassical courthouses in the United States, its hexastyle Corinthian portico and coffered rotunda defining the civic scale of Foley Square in lower Manhattan. Completed in 1927 to a design by Guy Lowell, the structure houses the Civil and Appellate Terms of the New York State Supreme Court for the First Judicial District and the offices of the New York County Clerk.
At a glance
- Type
- Civic courthouse
- Period
- Completed 1927
- Style
- Neoclassical (Beaux-Arts)
- Location
- 60 Centre Street, Foley Square, Civic Center, Manhattan, New York City, USA
- Architect
- Guy Lowell
- Coordinates
- 40.7145° N, 74.0043° W
Overview
The New York State Supreme Court Building stands at 60 Centre Street on Foley Square, in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan. It houses the Civil and Appellate Terms of the New York State Supreme Court for the First Judicial District, which is coextensive with Manhattan, as well as the offices of the New York County Clerk. The building is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and a defining monument of American civic architecture.
History
Construction of the courthouse began in the early 1910s following a competition won by architect Guy Lowell, who drew on the Pantheon and Roman imperial precedents for his circular plan. The building was completed in 1927 after years of construction and has since served continuously as the primary civil courthouse for Manhattan. It replaced earlier, inadequate court facilities and anchored the broader redevelopment of Foley Square as a major civic precinct.
What you see
The facade presents a grand hexastyle Corinthian portico raised on a broad podium, with carved pediment sculpture and an imposing flight of steps that ascend from Centre Street. Inside, a vast coffered rotunda — modelled loosely on the Roman Pantheon — rises above the entrance hall, its dome decorated with a painted frieze. The courtrooms on the upper floors retain their original dark wood panelling and bronze fittings, evoking the solemn character of early 20th-century American institutional design.
Cultural significance
The building has appeared in countless films and television productions — most notably the long-running series Law & Order — making its columned facade among the most-recognised courthouse images in popular culture worldwide. As a National Historic Landmark it is considered an outstanding example of Beaux-Arts civic design in the United States, reflecting the ambitious municipal building campaigns of the Progressive Era.
Practical information
- Address
- 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, USA
- Hours
- Weekdays during court sessions; check the New York State Unified Court System website for current access information
- Admission
- Public areas free to enter during court hours
Getting there
The courthouse is served by several New York City subway lines: take the 4, 5, or 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall, or the J or Z to Chambers Street. The building is a short walk from City Hall Park and the Brooklyn Bridge approach. Buses on Broadway and on the FDR Drive corridor also provide access to Foley Square.