Ottawa Courthouse

The Ottawa Courthouse, located at the intersection of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue, serves as the main provincial court for the Ottawa area, managing a variety of legal matters across its nine-story structure. Opened in 1986, the courthouse replaced temporary buildings from World War II and is adjacent to Ottawa City Hall. It houses multiple branches of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and is frequented by about 1,000 visitors daily. The building features a parking garage, courtrooms, and offices for judges, with the largest courtroom being a meticulously replicated space from its predecessor. The courthouse's history includes the original courthouse built in 1842 and the Italianate-style Carleton County Courthouse from 1870, which now serves as a cultural hub for arts and heritage organizations.