San Diego Central Courthouse
Brookside Veneer's Brookline Reconstituted Cherry brings color consistency to 71 courtrooms
When the San Diego Central Courthouse opened in 2017, it replaced an outdated, deficient, public building riddled with problems ranging from seismic risk to asbestos to security shortcomings.
The new $555 million, 22-story courthouse, which sits at the corner of Union and C streets in downtown San Diego, was designed by the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. Because of the massive scale of the project and the large number of sub-contractors involved, color consistency was a key consideration in selecting materials for the architectural applications.
The designers found an ideal solution for the paneling of the building's interior corridors and 71 courtrooms in Brookside Veneer's Brookline Reconstituted Cherry composite veneer. Brookline Veneer is a reconstituted 100 percent wood product that offers unparalleled color and grain pattern consistency. It is FSC-certified as having been sourced, harvested, and fabricated using environmentally sound practices.
Fabricated from tropical Obeche wood, which is harvested from sustainably managed forests in Cameroon,
"It's definitely a departure from the traditional dark, heavy wood found in many courthouses and court rooms. Reconstituted Cherry has a certain all-American look – and yet it's light and airy, very Southern California." — Eric Thomsson, Vice President of Brookside Veneers
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Frequently asked questions
What wood veneer was used in the San Diego Central Courthouse interior?+
The interior corridors and 71 courtrooms were paneled with Brookside Veneer's Brookline Reconstituted Cherry composite veneer, a 100 percent wood product chosen for its color and grain pattern consistency.
Why did the San Diego Central Courthouse need to be replaced?+
The previous public building was outdated and deficient, with problems including seismic risk, asbestos, and security shortcomings.
Who designed the San Diego Central Courthouse?+
The 22-story, $555 million courthouse was designed by the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. It opened in 2017 at the corner of Union and C streets in downtown San Diego.
Where is the Obeche wood in Brookline Reconstituted Cherry veneer sourced from?+
The tropical Obeche wood is harvested from sustainably managed forests in Cameroon. The veneer is FSC-certified as sourced, harvested, and fabricated using environmentally sound practices.
Why was color consistency important for the San Diego Central Courthouse materials?+
Because of the massive scale of the project and the large number of sub-contractors involved, color consistency was a key consideration in selecting materials for the architectural applications.
How does the Reconstituted Cherry veneer differ from traditional courtroom wood?+
According to Eric Thomsson of Brookside Veneers, it is a departure from the dark, heavy wood found in many courthouses. Reconstituted Cherry has an all-American look that is light and airy, evoking a Southern California feel.