Awards

First Prize, School of Architecture Faculty Award, College of Archicture, Georgia Tech, April 2012

Keywords

Shaping Justice studio; Courthouse design; Visual computation; Typology; Variation; Landhuggers

The courthouse typology, in concert with legal constructs, has evolved throughout the history of the United States from simple, one-room structures to complex high-rises. Still, the courtroom itself remains the building's focal point. Around it, complex circulation requirements demanding constant separation of the public, the staff, the judges, and the inmates become the variables for the new building typology. A shape grammar is proposed here to tackle the complexity of the program and suggest new formal ways to envision the future of this building typology. While most analysis in this typology shows a standardized marching of units, this grammar twists the prevalent system and looks at the power of intersecting circulation paths. An initial shape (x) is proposed showcasing five nodes of placement of the intersection. Each addition of intersection types T(x) exemplifies a schema rule of the type x -> x + T(x) showcasing endless possibilities while the spaces of the courthouse, and specifically the courtrooms, emerge from the application of the rules in the grammar. Additionally, each node acts as a hinge point whereby the grammar then becomes kinetic, adding yet another layer of variation in the overall design of the circulation and ultimately the building design. Ramping the circulation pathways through central atria allows the public and staff to occupy the same space while not having any direct contact. The figure-8 circulation pattern also dematerializes the front-of-house versus back-of-house condition prevalent in the courthouse typology, allowing the judges a physical and visual proximity to those they serve in addition to allowing the public to monitor those exercising judicial authority.