Courthouse: Courtroom

by WBDG Staff

Last updated: 05-25-2007

Overview

Courtrooms are spaces used to conduct formal judicial proceedings. A courtroom is combined with Judicial Chambers and related support spaces such as Jury Suites to form a court/chamber "Set". A Courtroom in a Federal Courthouse includes:

U.S. Court of Appeals Courtrooms, plus Sound Locks (entry vestibules);
U.S. District Courtrooms, plus Short-term Exhibit Storage and Public Entrance Sound Locks;
U.S. Magistrate Courtrooms, plus Short-term Exhibit Storage and Public Entrance Sound Locks;
U.S. Bankruptcy Courtrooms, plus Short-term Exhibit Storage and Public Entrance Sound Locks.

Courtrooms are typically located on the upper floors of Courthouse building shell and core structures.

Space Attributes

Key design concerns in courtrooms include separate circulation patterns for public, prisoner, and judiciary members; special attention to acoustic and lighting levels; and balancing information technology and A/V systems design with the need for highly aesthetic spaces. Typical features of courtroom space types include the list of applicable design objectives elements as outlined below. For a complete list and definitions of the design objectives within the context of whole building design, click on the titles below.

Accessible

Courtrooms shall comply with ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines, section 808, for turning space, clear floor space (jury box and witness stand), judges' benches and courtroom stations.
Accessibility lifts: Lifts will have welded construction with electro-hydraulic operation. Ramps will be provided to Clerks and Jury Box areas. A lift will be provided to the Witness Stand. Judge's Bench will be served by stair and shared with Witness Stand lift with additional stop. See GSA's Mechanical Lift Analysis (Accessibility Method for Accommodation of Physically Disabled People in the U.S. Courthouse Courtrooms).

Aesthetics

High ceilings: To enhance spatial quality and create a "civic" aesthetic appropriate for the proceedings and unobstructed courtroom interior views for all participants.
Custom millwork and furnishings: AWI Premium Grade architectural millwork, wainscot or full wall height.
Seating: Jury Seating is usually fixed based swiveling chairs with upholstered seats, and clear floor space to accommodate wheelchairs; and may be fitted with A/V monitors. Spectator seating is typically a wooden pew type, or may be upholstered auditorium type seating.

Functional / Operational

Occupancy group classification: is Business B-2, Assembly A-3, with sprinklered protected construction and GSA Acoustical Class A for critical noise-sensitive spaces.

Productive

Acoustical treatments such as upholstered walls or wall/ceiling panels. The Judge must be able to confer with counsel at the bench out of earshot of other participants.
Raised floors: A Judge's Bench has a 24" raised dais above the courtroom floor; Courtroom Deputy Clerk and Law Clerk stations have a 6" raised dais; Witness Stands have 12" raised dais; and Jury Boxes have a two-level raised platform at 6" and 12" above the courtroom floor. The public seating area and courtroom "well" have a raised floor—the preferred system for distribution of critical services (power, voice, data, and HVAC) in Courtroom space types. Raised floors for Courtrooms may have low-pressure high induction diffusers and be constructed of concrete filled metal pans at 24" modules with pedestal and stringer support, with intermediate support. Raised floors allow for adjustment of services to participant furnishings (tables, lecterns, seating) to accommodate line-of-sight and acoustical separation requirements.
Pressurized raised floor air supply with ceiling plenum.
AHUs are part of the building shell and core provisions; assume this space type requires a 25% increase in cooling capacity. Provide one AHU for every pair of courtrooms. Courtrooms to have separate zones for the well and public seating. Provide separate thermostat controls at the Judge's Bench and the Deputy Courtroom Clerk. The Grand Jury Hearing Room to be a separate zone from other spaces in the Grand Jury Suite.

Secure / Safe

Special finishes: Federal courtrooms typically require ballistics cladding integral with Judges' benches and other special security features per U.S. Marshals Service design standards.
Special security features: Emergency power is provided by generator(s) in building shell and core provisions. Provision for attack-resistant, short-term exhibit storage (safe) is required.

Example Program

The following is a representative building program.

COURTROOMS

Description	Per Set	SF Each	Small Courthouse	Medium Courthouse	Large Courthouse
Sr. District Courtrooms
Courtrooms	1	2,400	2,400	4,800	9,600
Soundlock	1	80	80	160	320
Short Term Exhibit Storage	1	50	50	0	0
Ancillary Facilities
Jury Facilities
District Courtrooms
Courtrooms	1	2,400	2,400	0	0
Soundlock	1	80	80	0	0
Short Term Exhibit Storage	1	50	50	0	0
Ancillary Facilities
Jury Facilities
Magistrate Courtroom Facilities
Courtrooms	1	1,800	1,800	0	0
Soundlock	1	80	80	0	0
Short Term Exhibit Storage	1	50	50	0	0
Ancillary Facilities
Jury Facilities
Bankruptcy Courtroom Facilities
Courtrooms	1	1,800	1,800	0	0
Soundlock	1	80	80	0	0
Short Term Exhibit Storage	1	50	50	0	0
Ancillary Facilities

Example Plans

The following diagrams are representative of typical courtroom plans.

Note: See the U.S. Courts Design Guide and other courts design resources for floor plan configurations typical of for other courtroom types.

Example Construction Criteria

For GSA, the unit costs for courtroom space types are based on the construction quality and design features in the following table (PDF 73 KB, 9 pgs). This information is based on GSA's benchmark interpretation and could be different for other owners.

Relevant Codes and Standards

The following agencies and organizations have developed codes and standards affecting the design of courtrooms. Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Architects, engineers, and consultants should consider exceeding the applicable requirements whenever possible:

Major Resources

WBDG

Publications

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC)
Electronic Courtroom/Chambers, An Interim Guide to Courtroom Technologies
Guide Specifications for Modification/Installation of Audio Systems in United States Courthouses
Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures
Judiciary's Human Resources Manual
United States Courthouse Design & Construction Process
United States Courts Moving Guide
Architectural Graphic Standards, 10th Edition by Charles Ramsey, Harold Sleeper, and John Hoke. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.
Building Type Basics for Justice Facilities by Todd S. Phillips & Michael A. Griebel, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., July 2003.
Courtroom Lighting—Criteria Evaluation and Energy Use Study (GSA)
P-100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (GSA)
Green Courthouse Design Concepts (GSA)
LEED® Cost Study (GSA)
LEED® Applications Guide (GSA)
Standard Level Features and Finishes for U.S. Court Facilities (GSA)
U.S. Courts Design Guide (Judicial Conference)

Others

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC)
The Center for Courthouse Programs—A web page of the Center for Courthouse Programs of GSA's Public Buildings Service
The U.S. Marshals Service now has a design guide covering all aspects of courthouse security, as well as security in the Marshals Service space. (Available for limited use only)
The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys has a design guide covering all aspects of courthouse security. (Available for limited use only)