ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland is moving forward with one of the most significant judicial construction projects in its history after the Board of Public Works approved a $147 million construction contract for the new Supreme Court of Maryland courthouse. The vote, taken on December 17, 2025, authorizes Bethesda‑based Coakley & Williams Construction to begin work on the long‑planned facility along Rowe Boulevard.
The new courthouse will replace the aging Courts of Appeal Building, which opened in 1972 and has struggled for years with structural limitations, accessibility challenges, and insufficient space for the state’s expanding judicial needs. The project has been described by state leaders as a “generational investment” in Maryland’s justice system.
Designed by Fentress Studios, the five‑story, 217,564‑square‑foot building will be Maryland’s first all‑electric public building and is intended to meet or exceed LEED Silver environmental standards. The structure will feature a durable steel frame with a pre‑cast concrete exterior, and its design blends modern efficiency with historic preservation. Notably, the project includes the relocation and installation of architectural elements from the 1903 Supreme Court building, including its original columns and the historic courtroom built for that early courthouse.
Inside, the facility will house the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Appellate Court of Maryland, and a range of judicial and legal support functions. The building will include three Appellate Court of Maryland courtrooms, chambers for justices and judges, offices for clerks and administrative staff, and dedicated space for the Standing Committee of Rules of Practice and Procedure and the State Board of Law Examiners. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, including its special collections, will also occupy a prominent place in the new complex, along with a Maryland Legal History Museum.
State officials emphasized that the project is not only a functional upgrade but a symbolic one. “This new courthouse will support our mission to provide fair, efficient and effective justice for all, while preserving and highlighting our rich legal history,” said Chief Judge Matthew Fader.
Construction is expected to take three years, with completion anticipated in 2028. Once finished, the courthouse will anchor a growing judicial corridor near the state capitol and serve as a modern home for Maryland’s highest courts for decades to come.
