The world we live in today often lends itself to an “us versus them” mindset, a “me versus everyone else” attitude. Rather than being celebrated, differences are frequently used to divide. While race, gender, and political affiliation (to name a few) typically receive the most attention, we usually...

As a court planning consultant, I often find myself sitting across from court managers and law enforcement officials who are facing a challenge – how to address prisoner movement in an existing courthouse that contains no dedicated secure circulation. If there is excess space in the courthouse and...

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 places over the years. What might not be recognized is that this move provides an opportunity for change. Not just a change in how the office looks and...

After spending more than a decade as a courthouse planning consultant, I began studying for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification exam last year. I must admit that the thought of one topic, in particular, struck fear in my heart and had me running—not walking—for the...

If your organization has undergone a space transition, you most likely followed a typical path. First, you gathered input from managers and perhaps even staff about their needs and preferences. Next, you may have worked with a planner to identify the required square footage. After these initial...