I recently attended a gala at the historic Surrogate’s Court in New York City—a stunning Beaux-Arts landmark that, for an evening, transformed from a courthouse into a space for celebration and community. Standing beneath its grand arches and marble columns, I couldn’t help but think: why shouldn’t...

When visitors walk into a new courthouse, they often notice the grand lobby, the flood of natural light, or the sense of civic dignity that the architecture conveys. What they don’t see is the data analysis that shaped every square foot of that space.

Populated areas, such as cafeterias, auditoriums, and libraries, are the heart of a school. They’re where students gather to eat, learn, and socialize. But because these spaces host large groups of people, they also present unique safety and security challenges.

The U.S. fertility rate—the average number of children born per woman—hit an all-time low of 1.6 in 2024, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. The replacement rate is what’s needed for the population to grow since slightly more than two children “replace” the mother and father.

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 asked a question:

“Given all the new courthouse projects you’ve worked on, what are some of the lessons learned—things that the courts later regret about...