The Florida Second District Court of Appeal has completed its $59 million, three-story building, a 51,708-square-foot facility at 525 Mirror Lake Drive in St. Petersburg, that will serve as the court’s permanent home.
And it was under budget.
The Second District handles appeals from six counties – Pasco and Pinellas in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto in the Twelfth and Hillsborough in the Thirteenth.
McCabe
The courthouse has been named in honor of the late Bernie McCabe, the longtime State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco counties.
For several years, the court operated out of temporary and leased space after vacating its former Lakeland courthouse due to structural and air-quality concerns. The new building brings those operations into a purpose-built space in St. Pete’s downtown core.
The project rises on the former site of the Sebring Building, a 1968 structure that was demolished in 2022 to clear the block.
Designed by DLR Group as architect of record, with Wannemacher Jensen Architects as associate architect, and constructed by Skanska, the courthouse includes 15 judicial chambers across two levels, a ceremonial courtroom and lobby and three floors of office space for judges, staff and Clerk of Court services.
A 7,800-square-foot central energy plant supports the building’s systems, and secure parking sits at ground level.
Demolition of the state-owned Sebring building at 525 Mirror Lake Dr. N. in 2022. Photo by Bill DeYoung.