.gif)
As the physical embodiment of our judicial system, courthouses need to inspire confidence, stability, reverence, and dignity while remaining open and accessible to all comers. From a functional standpoint, they are also incredibly complex, needing to safely and securely accommodate the general public, judges, and detainees. Here at PSA-Dewberry, our courts designers and planners are ever mindful of these potentially competing design pressures. We are continually seeking fresh ideas and creative solutions to the challenges of courthouse architecture. A recognized leader in the industry, our regular presence and involvement in national and international court design conferences ensures our clients benefit from the very latest security and technology innovations and design approaches.
Contact:
James L. Beight, AIA
jbeight@dewberry.com
703.698.9052
Projects
Click on image to see a larger view
 |
U.S. Courthouse
Rockford, Illinois
PSA-Dewberry is both the Architect of Record and the justice architect supporting Koetter, Kim & Associates in the design of a new federal courthouse located in Rockford, Illinois. The 197,000-SF facility is being designed in accordance with some of the most rigorous national standards including the US Marshalls’ Guidelines for Secure Courthouses, the US Green Building Council’s LEED Certification requirements, and the US General Services Administration’s Design Excellence Program. Throughout the project – from collaborating with the artist to make the art-in-architecture concept functional to placing the judges’ chambers on mezzanines above their courtrooms to preserve security while providing dramatic riverfront views to all users – our willingness to seek creative solutions has yielded results that exceed the client’s expectations. When complete, the new courthouse and surrounding park will anchor the revitalization of a currently under-utilized section of Rockford’s downtown.
|
|
 |
Gilbert Public Safety Building
Gilbert, Arizona
PSA-Dewberry led the design of this 195,000-SF joint-use facility serving the Town of Gilbert’s municipal courts, police department, and fire administration unit. The design successfully created a unified civic complex while maintaining the separate identities of the building’s three main tenants through the use of a different basic form and separate entrances for each tenant’s section. The municipal courts section includes trial, civil, and arraignment courtrooms in addition to two county courtrooms reserved for the Justice of the Peace. Completed in 2003, all spaces feature the latest technology for both security monitoring and evidence presentation. The Prosecuting Attorney’s offices are strategically placed within the facility to have convenient access to both the courtrooms and the police department’s CID.
|
|
 |
Chester County Courthouse
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The justice architect in support of Bernardon Haber Holloway, PSA-Dewberry provided all courts planning, interior architecture, and interior design for Chester County’s new 400,000-SF courthouse. The new facility will allow the courts to relocate and expand from their current historic home two blocks away in downtown West Chester. Particularly on the courtroom floors, the design successfully maintains security separations while encouraging a more social workplace among the court staff and projecting a less foreboding, institutional image to public visitors. In keeping with the latest trends in courts design, the facility will be fully ADA accessible for all user types and feature non-obtrusive, state-of-the-art technology.
|
|
 |
Term Contract
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Washington, DC
PSA-Dewberry is now in its tenth year providing multi-discipline architectural and engineering services to the Administrative Office of the US Courts at federal courthouses across the country. Our facility surveys, space plans, needs assessments, schematic designs, and concept developments lay the groundwork for much of the renovation and new construction serving the federal judiciary. To date, we have provided professional planning and design services for over 80 federal courthouses throughout the US and its territories. Individual projects have included furniture acquisition plans, lighting improvement studies, courtroom technology infrastructure improvements, design intent drawings, and construction document reviews. We have additionally provided through this contract vehicle complete design services for several judges’ chambers renovations.
|
|
 |
Denton County Courthouse
Denton, Texas
We designed Denton’s courthouse serving both the County and State District Courts. Design and construction of this 181,000-SF building were fast tracked saving more than six months of construction time and approximately $600,000. Inside and out, the building evokes a traditional courthouse feel while being a fully modern, technologically advanced facility. According to Former County Commissioner Kirk Wilson, the new courthouse “is one of the best looking I’ve seen in the state.”
|
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=link}