"The Howard H. Baker Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Knoxville, Tennessee, has won the 2003 The Office Building of the Year "TOBY" Award in the government building category. Judging for the award was based on community impact, tenant/employee relations programs, energy management systems, accessibility for disabled people, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs and overall quality indicators. A team of expert industry professionals also conducted a comprehensive building inspection. The courthouse competed and won at three levels, the first by local Building Owners and Managers Associations (BOMA); the second, at the regional level in each of the eight North American regions of BOMA International; and the final at the International level.

According to BOMA International, The Office Building of the Year "TOBY" Award is the most prestigious and comprehensive program of its kind in the commercial real estate industry, recognizing quality in office buildings and awarding excellence in office building management.

The Howard H. Baker Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a neo-Georgian style building that encloses two large urban courtyards. Splitting the complex into two halves is a public walkway forming a strong axial entrance and linking downtown and the county governmental center to the facility. The entrance culminates with a graceful clock tower. In 1997, the courthouse received a Citation Award from the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Justice.