The 2026 film Mercy presents a disturbing vision of the courtroom of the future. Chris Pratt plays an LAPD detective who awakens strapped to an
Posts by Topic:
- Courthouse Planning (201)
- Telework (82)
- Open Office Design (71)
- School Security (49)
- Courtroom Design (34)
- Courthouse Security (30)
- Hybrid Office (27)
- Workplace Security (23)
- Workspace Strategy (17)
- Courthouse Technology (16)
- Return to Work (15)
- Space Utilization (13)
- Office Manners (10)
- Police Station Design (8)
- Flexible Workspace (7)
- Mobile Workforce Solutions (7)
- Remote IT Support (6)
- Space Reduction and Utilization (6)
- Space Transition (5)
- Change Management (2)
- Space planning (2)
- Integrated Building Design (1)
- Space Programming (1)
Blog
Posts by Topic
Several years ago, I was interviewing court stakeholders as part of a courthouse planning study. A judge mentioned that an interesting trial was
Courtroom utilization analysis can reveal opportunities to reduce construction costs, rightsize courtrooms, and better align courthouse space with
I was recently sitting in a courthouse planning meeting reviewing demographic and economic data with county officials. The trends were interesting.
One of the most important questions in courthouse planning is also one of the most difficult to answer: How many courtrooms should a courthouse
It is a familiar scene in many older courthouses. Just outside a courtroom door, an attorney leans in close to a client, speaking in hushed tones
It started with a contradiction. Over the past two decades, one fast-growing county where we were engaged to perform court planning had added tens of
A person arrives at the courthouse early, having taken unpaid time off for a hearing expected to be brief. As the morning unfolds, small delays
Parking is one of the most common—and most contentious—issues raised during courthouse planning. Judges, jurors, staff, and the public experience
As a court planner, I always pause when beginning a project with a new architectural firm. One of the first questions is whether we’ll be able to
Not long ago, I was presenting to a Board of Commissioners about the need for a new courthouse. After the presentation, one of the commissioners
Courthouses are evolving to meet the demands of modern justice systems, community needs, and technological advancements. No longer defined by rigid
Several years ago, I participated in a courthouse planning session with another firm. The project lead was highly skilled—thorough in her research,
Courtroom utilization studies are becoming an essential tool in planning courthouse facilities. These studies assess how courtrooms are used,
Ah, the federal government—where policy priorities often collide in a complex balancing act. The latest showdown? The return-to-office push versus
In today's world, ensuring the safety and security of buildings is paramount. A strong security plan is vital, whether a corporate office, a school,
In today's world, ensuring the security of your building is not just a good practice—it's a necessity. But what happens if you're aware of security
A domestic abuse survivor enters the courthouse and immediately feels overwhelmed by the harsh fluorescent lighting and echoing corridors. The
As a guilty pleasure, I have been watching the HBO documentary “Chimp Crazy.” It is a four-part series that documents chimpanzees in captivity. While
As a court planner, I have worked with courts that have pursued legal action against counties because the court was not being provided adequate
As a seasoned professional in space planning and programming for government buildings, including courts, office buildings, and public safety, I have
Much discussion has been about the “new normal” workplace as we have emerged from the pandemic. The hybrid office has evolved as a modern alternative
As a court planner, one of the most common questions I have been asked since the pandemic is, “What best practices are being implemented in
Over 35 years, we have helped courts and architects plan courthouse space needs in 1,212 court facilities. We have had the opportunity to work on
As a court planner for many years, I have witnessed numerous trends, including increased security, new courtroom technology, the evolution of
Staying motivated and productive can be difficult when working remotely in a hybrid office setting. As organizations struggle to find the right
As the world comes out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations are shifting to hybrid offices to promote work-life balance and productivity. A
Now that the pandemic is easing, most employers are bringing employees back to the office. Many offices have become hybrid workplaces that blend
The hybrid courthouse (i.e., a courthouse that provides both in-person and remote services and has a mix of in-office and remote workers) has evolved
The notion of a hybrid courthouse stems from the trend brought about by the COVID pandemic to design spaces that accommodate both in-person and
I have been a manager of teleworkers for over 30 years. As a gross generalization, here is what I have observed: 50% of the employees do just as well
The hybrid office is a post-pandemic workplace designed around employees dividing their time between the office and home. It is human-centric in that
Students and staff shelter in their respective classrooms when there is a lockdown drill or other emergency requiring shelter in place. So, having
Our court planning work is split between serving local courts and federal courts. It has been interesting to be involved with the different
It is always an exciting day when the doors of a new courthouse open. There is a feeling of accomplishment in seeing the shared vision come together,
Over a year and a half into the pandemic, we have seen a lot of change in courthouses and the operations of the components that comprise the judicial
The hybrid office is being promoted as the future of work. In a hybrid office setting, employees split their time between working in the office and
Many organizations are considering a hybrid office for the future of their workplace. A hybrid office is an employee-centric concept where the
If you are like me, over the past year you have immersed yourself in articles and webinars about all aspects of how the pandemic will shape the
Courtroom sharing is a sensitive topic for many courts. Although some courts have implemented courtroom sharing practices, many remain resistant to
Many organizations consider a hybrid office to be the ideal post-pandemic workplace. The hybrid office enables employees to work from home and the
The hybrid office is the new post-pandemic workplace. With employees increasingly splitting their time between working from the office and from home,
The post-pandemic office is projected to become a “hybrid office” - a workplace where employees split their time between working from home and on
The new term for the post-pandemic workplace is “hybrid office.” The hybrid office is designed for employees to work in the office two to three days
Both the government and commercial sectors have gone through significant transitions during the pandemic as employees have been required to work from
In what may be called “normal times,” organizations would perform strategic planning prior to implementing a systematic telework program. Due to the
The pandemic has forced millions of office workers to telework. There have been mixed reviews about telework – some people feel isolated and
Managers of teleworkers want to feel confident that their employees are performing quality work and meeting their deadlines. They also want to know
Key factors of successful telework include organization and communication. You don't need a digital application for either of these, but I have found
Telework has been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic. As a result, businesses have had to scramble to implement significant changes that
by Keith Fentress (Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) The courthouse is an iconic civic building
I remember my first job out of grad school. I was so excited to have a paycheck and a dedicated office. Most of my friends worked in cubicles, so it
I was recently asked to come back to work in a martial arts studio where I serve as a part-time instructor. Over the past several months, the studio
Businesses nationwide are developing plans to return to normalcy – or something approaching it. “Normalcy,” in this case, means the workplace will
The Coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the economy, the healthcare system, and our world as a whole. If you're a business owner, you might
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, telework has been on the rise. Millions are now working remotely, something that may continue even after this
Courthouses are where conflicts are resolved, and justice is dispensed. Security in the courthouse is critical for all types of proceedings. It is
I recently joined a school security assessment team for a newly constructed elementary school. The design reflected modern trends emphasizing
School parking lots can be a source of school security concerns, including safety issues for those driving and walking in the lot, the occurrence of
By Mike Jones (Major Consulting and Design, LLC) and Keith Fentress We recently performed a school security assessment at a high school, arriving at
By Keith Fentress and Mike Jones (Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) In performing a recent school security assessment, we sat down with the
We have all heard the phrase “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” I have found this phrase to be particularly true when it comes to funding projects
By Mike Jones (Major Security Consulting and Design) and Keith Fentress “I’ll look like a traffic cone,” said a school security officer when being
I was recently involved in an exciting analysis for a court jurisdiction with multiple courthouses spread across a sizable geographic area. Our goal
Whether the position is a court security officer, sheriff’s office deputy, or contracted guard, the courthouse relies upon security personnel to keep
Courts do not generate their own workload - they respond to other organizations and the public. For example, on the criminal side, a court is a
By: Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) Unfortunately, the maintenance
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) To properly install a security
By: Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) Home offices can be tempting
A common challenge in existing courthouses is constructing a new courtroom to accommodate growth in judges. Many existing courthouses, especially
The open office has been criticized as a workplace design that causes stress for employees. Some of the primary concerns include an increase in
It's great to see workplaces embracing wellness. Because employees spend significant time at work, our workplaces should be healthy environments.
Ever wanted to do away with a brick and mortar office and give every employee the freedom to telework from home? That is a virtual company. Though
One of the primary concerns managers have regarding telework is whether they can trust that their employees are working. There are many distractions
The judge’s bench is a primary element of courtroom design. The bench is usually elevated as a prominent central feature at the front of the
We were recently involved in a design-build competition for a new building. Our role was to participate as part of an interdisciplinary team to
As we all know, the open office is the latest design trend. It aims to reduce space per person while promoting mobility and collaboration. However,
By: Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) Many workplaces choose not to
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) The number of people working from
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) So, you have the budget to install
By: Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) Unfortunately, violence in
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) Recently, we performed a routine
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress, Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) The mass shooting at the Capital
By Keith Fentress (President, Fentress, Inc.) and Mike Jones (President, Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC) The country is still in shock
I often hear the phrase, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” I took the phrase to heart about five years ago and began to focus heavily
I was recently visiting a client in an open office setting. She gave me a tour of their newly designed space and led me to the workstation she had
The foundation of any working relationship is trust. It used to be that your manager would give you assignments, and if you performed well, you would
In 2015, State of the State Courts survey respondents were asked: "How would you rate the job being done by courts in your state?" Surprisingly, the
The open office has been heralded as a modern layout that promotes collaboration, innovation, and a more flexible workplace. But is there a downside?
There are many challenges to remote work, including setting up boundaries between work and home life, having a dedicated office space, and helping
With the daunting spread of the coronavirus and the president signing a $8.3 billion coronavirus aid package, controlling the spread of germs has
This article focuses on the remote manager – and I’m not talking about the guy sitting down the hall in the big corner office who is psychologically
Years ago, during a courthouse needs assessment, I had a passing conversation with a defense attorney while I was evaluating courtrooms. She noticed
As a court planning consultant, I often find myself sitting across from court managers and law enforcement officials who are facing a challenge – how
We are going to speak affirmatively about adapting from a traditional office environment to an open floor plan. You've seen this in any number of
Six months ago, I received my first ever summons for jury duty. I had somehow eluded it my entire life, but my number was finally up! Serving shed
As an architect who focuses on space transition projects, my goal is to move an organization’s facilities from traditional to more collaborative and
Are you aware of how much vacant space you are currently paying for in your office? You may occasionally walk around and notice one or two empty
Videoconferencing has been around since the mid-1980s. However, until recently, getting hooked up was not a simple feat. It required dedicated
What happens in a courthouse can have a lasting effect on individuals, families, communities, and even the nation. Therefore, courthouses must be
As any space planner or architectural designer can tell you, a lot of detail and thought goes into developing workplace plans. With the recent trend
Planning for courthouses has been our bread and butter for almost 30 years. During this time, we have helped numerous federal, state, and local
Over the past 15 years, the use of evidence presentation systems (EPS) has become commonplace in courtrooms of every size and type around the
There is quite a bit of debate right now about the best office design. In recent years, the trend has been toward open and collaborative workspaces
Anyone seeing the façade of just about any major courthouse in any U.S. city would recognize the significant impact of architectural inspiration in
A sustained increase in court caseload often means that more judges are needed to hear the cases, which results in a need for more courtrooms. For
The courthouse is, first and foremost, a symbol of the rule of law as the basic tenet of the American system of government. It also serves a more
The dedication and opening of a new courthouse is always an exciting and monumental event, filled with ceremony, speakers, and celebration. It’s also
Collaborative workplaces have become the new standard for companies and are synonymous with high performance and innovation. In office design,
Growth in Technology is everywhere. Where will technology lead us in future courtroom design? What will future courtrooms be like, and is your court
Is there more to achieving collaborative open office spaces than just good design? The all-too-common dissatisfaction with the performance of open
Does your courtroom design layout impede safe egress for trial participants during a courtroom emergency? Does it present tripping hazards? This post
Could there be a drawback to the increased personal interaction in today’s collaborative open office? Too much collaboration can turn your super
Want to know how much open office space you’ll need per person in your new layout? This post guides you through where to start to calculate your
The witness represents a critical player in the judicial process. How that witness is presented in court is, in part, established by the location of
On the surface, architecture and advanced analytics disciplines might seem mutually exclusive. However, over 30 years of courthouse planning
Transitioning from a traditional office to an open office environment that fosters collaboration and mobility can be challenging. The Internet
Every day I read yet another article, sometimes online, sometimes in the newspaper, about an organization adopting an open office environment design
Recently, I received several comments in response to my blog, The Ruling Is in High Tech Mobile Law Offices Really Work, requesting more detail about
By Alan Ruby, Senior Architectural Consultant Whenever I compare the characteristics of a traditional office to a contemporary mobile office, I
Transitioning from a traditional office to a more dynamic, collaborative, open, and mobile office can be a significant culture shift for any
The decoration in judges' chambers can reflect their personalities. I have seen many unique collections and displays and have heard wonderful stories
Today, I will talk about how important it is to perform a needs assessment, focusing on how proper planning from a courthouse improvement project's
Architectural firms and court planning consultants have both unique and overlapping skill sets. If you are concerned that your courthouse is
After years of courthouse planning, it is still painful to go into a courthouse where the operations, security, and image of the court are suffering
Courtroom sharing is a controversial issue considered by courts all over the country. Most of the courts I work with have one courtroom per judge.
For many years, I assessed courthouses, and additional file storage has been a common need for court and related components. The introduction of
When conducting a courthouse planning needs assessment, it is important to evaluate the current capacity and condition of the existing courthouse and
Courthouse planning has comprised a large part of my professional experience. During most planning sessions, population projections come up to
The courthouse planning needs assessment sets the stage for the other elements in the design and construction process (I like to call it a catalyst
Planning, funding, designing, and constructing a significant renovation project to an existing courthouse or the construction of a new courthouse is
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a public-private partnership team proposal for a new courthouse project for Miami-Dade County.
In my last article, I discussed the advantages of video-conference hearing rooms. Today, I will present an overview of the basic components that
When discussing courthouse metrics, the higher the rating score, the better the existing facility meets the operational needs of the court. An
In the initial Courthouse Metrics Introduction post, I suggested several issues that could be effectively addressed using a comprehensive and
Today, we continue my eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning with a discussion on technology– the availability of
Today, in the fifth installment of my eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning, I am discussing the criterion of
Today, in the fourth installment in my eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning, I am exploring the criterion of
This is the third in an eight-part series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning. This installment focuses on Space standards – the
Last week, I introduced a new series on quantitative measures used in courthouse planning. Today, I will address the first quantitative measure
I have written many posts about courthouse planning in the last year. From space allocation to courthouse design, we’ve explored these issues
Over the past year, I have posted numerous articles addressing courtroom layout and design topics and discussed judges’ chambers and courthouse
Designing modern, open offices that facilitate collaboration requires more than the right furniture and floor plan, we must also design these offices
In this and the following two entries in this three-post series, I’ll look at the interplay between modern office design and the needs of office
In my last article on planning for mobile offices, I presented an example office layout for collaborative employees. In this third and final piece in
In my last article on planning for mobile offices, I presented examples of furniture and facilities for employees that predominantly work
In my last post, The Design of Mobile Offices Influenced by Work Practices, I presented three predominant characteristics of work practices that
In my recent posting Technology, Mobility, Flexibility, and Beyond, I discussed the new open workplace. At this point, it seems appropriate to take a
In several of my previous entries about space reduction, I highlighted the impact of new technologies on mobile work practices and the resultant
Today, in our third and final piece on workplace privacy, we will tackle the issue of personal matters at the office. The recent article, As Office
The need for privacy in a collaborative space differs from that required in a focus space. On the one hand, we are looking at individual privacy; on
In my previous posting, Focus Spaces, I discussed that, in the absence of private offices or dedicated workstations, staff members who frequently
In my previous post about space reduction, Technology, Mobility, Flexibility, and Beyond, I discussed the relationship between new technologies and
I will review two common collaborative spaces in part two of my series on critical components of today’s mobile office environment; I will review two
In my previous courthouse posts, I discussed artwork's role in supporting the American courthouse as a symbol of the rule of law and creating a
As a courthouse planning consultant, I spend considerable time attending meetings and conducting on-site assessments in courthouses. I am never
This is the first in a series concerning applying accessibility requirements in courthouses. I will begin by addressing reconciling courthouse
The corporate world has embraced the concept of reducing office space for many years. Office spaces are being designed for the mobility and
A common issue in courthouses is how to fit an additional courtroom into an existing space. This issue is often difficult to address as many
Earlier this month, a colleague and I attended the Tradeline Space Strategies Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. The conference had approximately
In our previous space reduction blogs, we discussed engaging end-users by soliciting their feedback through surveys, showroom tours, force field and
Our last blog in this series introduced two standard methods for orienting employees to an open office work environment. These methods included
At its core, a mobile work environment is a spatial arrangement that considers the mobile nature of today’s workforce. Often, people are away from
I regularly tour courthouses in my role as a court planning consultant. One of my responsibilities is identifying suitable spaces for future
When saving space in a courthouse, the judge's chambers are seldom the first area to look at. Judges need proper chambers to perform their work and
Unsurprisingly, insufficient space is the principal limitation encountered by court planning in renovating judge chambers. The challenge is to
Courtroom technology has been a growing topic for the past two decades. The technology used by courts can vary widely. Some courts define technology
Visibility in the courtroom is vital for all participants and spectators. Low courtroom lighting can cause visibility problems; overly bright
In an earlier blog, we discussed reporting metrics that convey overall space reduction progress. One such metric is a comparison of space and saving
For R&A projects that include the renovation of several existing courtrooms and perhaps several new courtrooms, the most effective solutions may be
Two types of reports are integral in monitoring the space reduction progress of a space reduction program. The first is at the department or division
Trial courtrooms that accommodate criminal proceedings require five points of access to achieve a secure separation of participants: one each for the
Our previous posts about space reduction discussed all the steps necessary to establish a space baseline. Once you’ve identified your reduction
In two past blogs, we addressed modeling space, costs, and return on investment at the project and national or regional levels. This blog will
We usually think of a courtroom as a large, organized, open space full of litigants and participants undergoing court proceedings with spectators
A court planning consultant serves many roles, but – most importantly – a court planning consultant will analyze your courthouse to make critical
When managing a space reduction initiative for an entire facility portfolio, using a model that calculates return on investment and prioritizes
In the last article, we mentioned that developing a model to calculate return on investment and other critical measures for a space reduction program
Our recent articles focused on establishing an accurate baseline number of currently occupied spaces as the first step in a reduction initiative.
Our two previous blogs examined challenges to establishing and maintaining a space baseline: accounting for pipeline projects and tracking GSA
Once an agency has established a baseline that accurately reflects its total space footprint, tracking ongoing changes to its space is essential.
In our last blog post, we identified challenges to the Freeze the Footprint policy that is not unique to individual agencies. In this installment, we
In complying with directives from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), federal agencies have been required to Freeze the Footprint on occupied
Since my last post addressed dogs, it is only fair to note that cats can also be troublesome office mates for teleworkers. Along with our two dogs,
Pets are the office mates of home-based employees, but while they provide love and companionship, they can be a nuisance in the home office if
I often receive a number of questions about being a manager in a virtual company. Some of the more common questions are: If all the people you
Many people who work in traditional offices complain about lengthy commutes, office politics, long hours away from home, and other negative aspects
One of the main reasons that people work from home is the opportunity to strike a better balance between work and home life. The key to this balance
For over 25 years, I have been running Fentress Inc. as a virtual company. We employ policy consultants, analysts, architects, and information
No posts match the selected filters.