Law Courts, Public square in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Law Courts is a public square in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, forming part of the larger Robson Square complex. The area connects several buildings and open spaces through a series of walkways, ramps, and terraces that span across street level.
The complex was completed in the late 1970s, replacing earlier plans for a tall tower that would have dominated the skyline. Architect Arthur Erickson shifted the design toward a broad, horizontal structure that sits closer to the ground and fits into the surrounding city.
The building houses the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of British Columbia, making it the center of provincial justice. A statue of Themis, the goddess of law, greets visitors in the entry area and gives a sense of the purpose behind the space.
The square is easy to reach on foot from central Vancouver, with several transit stops nearby. Visitors can walk freely through the open areas and terraces, but access to the courtrooms inside the building is not open to the general public.
The ramps connecting the different levels of the complex are known as 'stramps', a word invented by combining 'stairs' and 'ramps'. The landscape around the building was designed by Cornelia Oberlander, who was among the first to bring trees and plants into a courthouse setting in Vancouver.
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