Replacing the former Sheriff Court building in the Merchant City, which was built in 1842, Glasgow Sheriff Court is now located at No.1 Carlton Place, on the south bank of the River Clyde, in the Gorbals district of the city. This large three-storey brutalist structure is the only court serving the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin and is said to be the busiest court in Europe. The purpose-built building was the work of architects Keppie Henderson and Partners and construction began in 1981. Brown Danish marble contrasts with honey-coloured sandstone. The court complex was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 29th July 1986.
In addition to the Sheriff Court, the building provides a home for a Justice of the Peace Court and Stipendiary Magistrate Court, with 22 separate courtrooms handling both criminal and civil cases, including a specialist 'Drug Court' and another dedicated to domestic abuse. Inside, a top-lit spine is overlooked by balconies and crossed by a network of glass and metal bridges.
Described as Scotland's largest solar array, 700 sq, m (7535 sq. feet) of solar panels were mounted on the roof of the building in 2008, with the capacity to generate 97 kW of power. The system cost £500,000 and is predicted to generate electricity worth £20,000 each year.
