If your courthouse space is maxed out, you may find yourself getting pretty creative to repurpose space (think storage closet conversion). Or your operations may be suffering due to the quality of your space. Either way, you may be looking for a sustainable solution but might be overwhelmed by the...

It’s no secret that technology is transforming our daily lives. Phone booths have nearly vanished from urban landscapes (and with the rise in e-commerce, As a court planning consultant I have to wonder if shopping malls are far behind). With the tiny handheld units responsible for rendering phone...

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...

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 light on a jurors perspective during courthouse planning.

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,...