The Silvio J. Mollo Federal Building has been recognized with the 2025 AIA National Justice Facilities Review Award in the Unbuilt category.
Located at St. Andrew’s Plaza in New York City’s Civic Center, the project transforms a 1975-era federal structure into a decarbonized, all-electric workplace for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Originally conceived as part of an adjacent correctional complex, the building’s transformation breaks from this carceral legacy. In its place, new public architecture serves as a civic landmark—defined by accessibility, social justice, and spatial accountability.
More than a renovation, the project sets a new precedent for adaptive reuse and environmental performance within the federal building portfolio. It retains and upgrades the original concrete structure, integrates a high-performance façade, and replaces fossil-fuel-based systems with an all-electric mechanical strategy supported by renewable energy. The building is pursuing LEED Platinum and International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon certifications—potentially the first GSA project in New York State to do so.
Inside, the workplace is organized to enable mentorship and openness, using standardized office modules, calibrated daylight, and shared work areas to replace previously siloed layouts. A mural by Alex Katz—original to the building—is preserved and prominently integrated into the new public-facing lobby.
Key Design Strategies
• Façade: Vertical envelope inspired by Thurgood Marshall Courthouse repositions the building as a civic symbol.
• Carbon: Reuse of structure and stairs reduces embodied carbon by 55%.
• Energy: 75% EUI reduction; remaining demand met with renewable sources.
• Access: Pavilion lowers entry to grade, improving access and integrated security.
• Workplace: Plan supports mentorship, transparency, and daylight equity.
"Public buildings should be open, responsive, and built for longevity. It’s not just a renovation—it’s a redefinition of what federal architecture can be."