The courthouse stands on the location of the previous federal courthouse named the Emanuel Celler Federal Building. The previous courthouse, which was built in 1963, was a 6-story building that became unable to accommodate the court. This building underwent major renovations in 1999 under the direction of architect César Pelli.[1] Upon its completion in 2006, the renovation had increased the number of floors to fifteen, bringing the total floor area to 750,000 square feet (70,000 m2). The building contains 16 courtrooms and 9 magistrate courtrooms. The construction incorporated several extraordinary security features, such as having a structural frame that can withstand an explosion and having laminated glass face the exterior.[2] On September 17, 2008, the courthouse was officially renamed in honor of Theodore Roosevelt with President George W. Bush signing into law legislation introduced by Senator Charles Schumer.[3] A rededication ceremony was held on December 30 of that year.[4]
^ ab"Brooklyn". United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2018.