As required by the selection process, all lead firms have chosen at least one local architectural partner for their design team and confirmed their participation in a public presentation series. Three of the firms will make their first presentation on the evening of Nov. 30, at the Colorado Convention Center, with the others to make their presentations later.

"This competitive process has yielded extraordinarily talented architectural teams, with top-notch international and local expertise," says Mayor John Hickenlooper. "We hope Denver citizens will take advantage of the opportunity to hear directly from these signature architects about their previous work and the unique design opportunities they envision for the Denver Justice Center." The selection juries will conclude deliberations and forward their recommendations to the mayor by mid-December.

The firms for the courthouse include: London-based Foster & Partners with AR7 Hoover Desmond Architects of Denver; HDR, Denver; and National Center for State Courts, Boulder. The Kallman McKinnell & Wood Architects' team includes OZ Architecture of Denver. New York City-based Richard Meier & Partners put together a team that includes Fentress Bradburn Architects of Denver and SGS Consultant Group of Sacramento, CA. New York City's Robert A.M. Stern Architects' team includes 4240 Architecture of Denver and Ricci Greene Associates of New York. And Steven Holl Architects of New York's team includes Klipp Architecture Planning Interiors of Denver and Ricci Greene.

The detention finalists include: Hartman-Cox Architects of Washington DC, whose team includes Ricci Greene, OZ Architecture and Vorrhis Roberston Justice Services of Boulder. HOK or Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc. of St. Louis' team includes Anderson Mason Dale Architects of Denver, Reilly Johnson Architecture of Denver, and Carter Goble Lee of Washington, DC. TEN Arcquitectos of New York City assembled a team that includes RNL and Durrant, both of Denver. And Chicago-based Valerio Dewalt Train Associates assembled a team that includes Newman Cavender and Doane of Denver, DLR Group of Colorado Springs, and Daniel C. Smith and Associates of Denver.