Construction began on August 14, 2001, with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani attending a breaking ground ceremony.

[5][6] Court officers complained that the courthouse was sinking, and it was temporarily shut down in 2009 as several windows cracked or broke due to the building settling.

[7] The New York City capital commitment plan for fiscal year 2015 also included $35.3 million for post-construction work to repair and fix items that were not properly installed during the initial construction.

[8] The building nevertheless remains prone to window breaks, floor collapses, and flooding that closes the six basement courtrooms.

[6] Other influences of the bombing include explosive-resistant glass, a bulletproof lobby, and locating the underground garage beneath the pedestrian plaza instead of the building itself.