Des Moines, January 26, 2017 Discover some of the special features in the Iowa Judicial Branch Building and the interesting stories behind them by watching a new video tour online, and then come and see the building for yourself.
The 11-minute video is narrated by retired KCCI-TV news anchor Kevin Cooney and was produced by J. Alex Cooney with video production provided by his company, JAC Photoworks. The Cooneys donated their time and expertise for the production of the video, which can be viewed from the Judicial Branch website at: http://www.iowacourts.gov/For_the_Public/For_Students__Teachers/Tours__Visits/Tour_Judicial_Branch_Building/index.asp .
The building tour highlights the many architectural features, the 131-year old murals installed throughout, and a few historic and decorative surprises. The five-story judicial branch building opened in 2003. It is a 124,000 square foot model of efficiency and durability with a floor plan organized into two main components, a formal wing and an office wing. The video focuses on the formal, or public, area of the building, which contains the ceremonial and public spaces of the building such as the rotunda, with its 105-foot-tall dome, and the Iowa Supreme Court and Iowa Court of Appeals courtrooms.
The judicial branch building is open to the public to visit weekdays from 8 - 4:30. When oral arguments for the supreme court and court of appeals are heard, the public is welcome to attend and watch. Group tours for more than 20 persons can be scheduled ahead of your arrival, or a self-guided tour sheet is available for individuals. For more information, visit the Iowa Judicial Branch website at: http://www.iowacourts.gov/For_the_Public/For_Students__Teachers/Tours__Visits/Tour_Judicial_Branch_Building/index.asp .
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