 The Courthouse was designed by Jersey City native Hugh Roberts , twice a president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects . Roberts , brother @-@ in @-@ law of future United States Senator and New Jersey Governor Edward I. Edwards , received a direct appointment as architect . No competition or bidding for designs was held , causing controversy among local architects . The property on which the courthouse stands was obtained from fourteen separate property owners between 1905 and 1914 . The groundbreaking took place on March 21 , 1906 and the cornerstone was laid on December 12 , 1906 . Construction of the building was done by Wells Brothers of New York City and construction of the interiors and finishes were by John Gill & Son of Cleveland , Ohio . 
