The 2020-21 TV season has started, and it’s interesting to see to how TV dramas are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in their fictional worlds. From my standpoint as a court design consultant, I’m especially interested in the TV shows that involve courtroom scenes, and what COVID protocols those...

In a previous blog, I wrote about one way a courtroom proceeding could be held while still observing social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, I’ve come across other potential solutions that have been implemented by courts around the country. In this blog, I describe one...

 In my experience as a courtroom planning consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to plan for many types and styles of courtrooms. While there are many different issues regarding courtroom design – including sightlines, furniture options, and access requirements – the focus of this blog will be on the...

Ramp or lift? That’s the question an architect or planner must ask when deciding how to make all portions of the courtroom fully accessible to court participants. Motorized lifts are costly but can take up less space than floor ramps, which can obstruct circulation. However, by integrating...

Having a courtroom layout that provides sufficient space for each type of user is critical. The courtroom is the location where three separate circulation zones intersect: public circulation for spectators, family members, and litigators; restricted circulation for the judge, court staff, and jury;...