London-based Serie Architects and collaborators Singapore-based Multiply Architects won a competition to triple the size of the Singapore Subordinate Courts Complex, which contains the district and magistrates’ courtrooms. The winning design calls for the creation of two new 35-story towers, as well as the renovation of the existing octagonal court building.

The design competition jury was led by international architect Moshe Safdie, who recently designed the Colombo skyscraper for Sri Lanka. (Mr. Safdie wrote a case study of his Marina Bay Sands project in Singapore, which can be found here.)

The two new 150-meter towers (492-feet) will accommodate 60 courts. One tower will contain criminal courtrooms while the other will hold the judges' chambers and supporting functions, according to the architects.

The fluted terracotta blocks of the first tower are designed to match the color of the clay tiles on the roofs of surrounding buildings. Footbridges will connect the two towers and control access to the complex. The existing 1970s octagonal court building will be refurbished to house 35,000 square meters (380,000 square feet) of civil, family and juvenile courts.

"The relationship between the city and its civic buildings was our primary interest for this project," said Chris Lee, principal at Serie Architects, in a statement. "The new courts complex should be a building that is symbolically open and accessible to the public. Its design language is drawn from the city and should be readily understood by all Singaporeans."

A public viewing was held in March to invite the citizens' views on the shortlisted designs.

Construction is set to commence next year and completed in 2019 with a budget of $350 million, according to the architects.