Imagine a statewide courthouse portfolio spanning dozens of facilities including urban courthouses operating at or beyond capacity, smaller rural buildings with aging security infrastructure, and historic facilities carrying years of deferred maintenance. Each courthouse has a legitimate need, yet...

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 conduct stakeholder interviews in our usual way—or whether the firm plans to rely on questionnaires.

Outdoor spaces are some of the busiest areas on a school campus. Playgrounds, fields, and courtyards support learning, social interaction, and physical activity — but they also come with unique security challenges.

The administrative offices of a school handle daily operations, greet visitors, support students, and act as a central communication hub both on regular days and during emergencies. Since they manage high traffic and sensitive situations, these spaces require careful, layered security measures.

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...