Since I’ve worked as a courthouse planner for most of my career, the concept of universal design has been drilled into me. Universal design is the notion that, to the greatest extent possible, the built environment should provide an experience that accommodates all user groups, regardless of age,...

As a court planner, I am frequently faced with helping clients understand whether or not their historic courthouse is a viable long-term housing solution for them.  The challenges faced by courts who operate in older courthouses highlight a common dilemma that I see across the country. 

As a court planner, one of the most common questions I have been asked since the pandemic is, “What best practices are being implemented in courthouse projects in light of the hybrid concepts that have emerged during the pandemic?” The notion of a hybrid courthouse combines traditional court...

Fentress has assessed over 1,200 court facilities throughout the U.S., and with that experience comes much knowledge and data. This data can be analyzed to help decision-makers plan for the long-term needs of their courthouses. 

I have to acknowledge a struggle I have been dealing with for the last two years as a court planner. Will courts embrace the technologies that arose during the pandemic and reduce the size and number of courtrooms, or will they maintain the status quo?