Each year, I assess more than two dozen courthouses of varying size and character. At the end of each assessment, I recommend an architectural approach to meet the current and future space needs of the court. For historic courthouses with strict preservation requirements in downtown areas,...

Videoconferencing has been around since the mid-1980s. However, until recently, getting hooked up was not a simple feat. It required dedicated digital lines, expensive video equipment, and specially designed conference rooms. As a result, videoconferencing tended to be reserved for large,...

What happens in a courthouse can have a lasting effect on individuals, families, communities, and even the nation. Therefore, courthouses must be safe places for those who work in the buildings and for those who visit. In most public buildings, safety means elements like smoke and fire alarms,...

“What about my privacy? Where will I store important documents? How will I have private conversations about sensitive human resource issues?”

My friend Liz, a manager for a well-known banking institution, shared these concerns with me about 18 months ago before her company transitioned from private...

Objectivity is the bedrock of the American judicial process. We expect the judicial process to be fair and impartial. Should we expect anything less when we plan and design the court facilities that support this process? It’s no surprise that opinions on architecture can be very subjective. From...