Named after Congressman Joe Moakley, the 675,000-square-foot (62,700 m2) building was completed in 1999 at a cost of $170 million and has won many design awards.

[2] It was the first major project to be awarded as part of the United States Court Design Guidelines and incorporates General Services Administration's goals for imparting dignity and social significance, while creating modern and innovative justice architecture.

[3] Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, who was serving as Chief Judge of the First Circuit at the time, helped oversee the design and construction of the building and credits the project for sparking his interest in architecture.

[2] The courtrooms themselves are distinguished by a motif of large arches defined by wood moldings and stenciled ornament.

[2] The sub-basement houses an ice storage air conditioning system which uses half-price electricity at night to freeze water, which is then used to cool the courthouse during hot days.