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,...

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,...

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...