Bullitt County Judicial Center

• Location: Shepherdsville, Kentucky, USA

• Architect: CMW, Inc.

• Style: Post modern

• Completed in: 2007

The Bullitt County Judicial Center is situated in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, just one block from the Bullitt County courthouse. This modern facility is designed to address the judicial needs of Bullitt County, Kentucky. It houses multiple courtrooms, administrative offices, and support services, providing a centralized venue for legal proceedings and ensuring public access to justice.

The building was constructed in 2007 in the very unique design by the architectural firm, CMW. At a glance, it looks like a piece of trick art where there is a balcony beneath the pediment attached to those four free-standing Doric columns.

"It looks like there is a balcony and four Doric columns"

There is, in fact, no balcony; instead, the four Doric columns extend halfway outward, which gives an optical illusion of a balcony. This façade design plays with perspective, creating a sense of depth that invites the eye to explore the space.

"Columns extend halfway outward"

"A view of columns from another view"

The intension or purpose of this particular illusive design remain however however it could be a use of neo-classical architectural elements in a post modern style, as indicative in other projects by the same architectural firm.

"View of portico from the side"

The rest of the building is a red brick structure with features like pediments, pilasters, quoins and cupola.

"Pediments, pilasters, quoins and cupola"

Reference:

Bullitt County, Kentucky. Courthouses of the United States, https://courthouses.co/us-states/h-l/kentucky/bullitt-county/. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

CMW Inc. “Government Architecture.” CMWAEC, https://www.cmwaec.com/governmentarchitecture.html. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.