- What are you most passionate about in regards to Justice Architecture?
JJ: I feel that architects can have a great impact on the decisions that shape our justice system and our public realm in general. We need to be involved, and even embedded, in the organizations that make the early and fundamental decisions.
- What firm do you work for and how long have you been with your current firm?
JJ: I started my own practice here in Toronto about 20 years ago and have been focused on courthouse planning and design for most of that time. For many years, I consulted directly to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, representing the ‘owner’s’ side of large courthouse projects, throughout the planning, design and construction phases. More recently, I have been teaming up with larger firms on projects to contribute my courthouse design expertise.
- How did you join the Leadership Group? Describe past committee work if possible.
JJ: Last fall I was contacted by Amy Finlayson who asked if I might be interested in being part of the Leadership Group. Her call was a complete surprise and the request to join the LG was a great honor. I have been attending AAJ fall conferences pretty regularly since about 2006, and have always found the conferences to be educationally stimulating, as well as a great place to make new connections with other architects in the justice field. I remember at my first conference being awestruck to find myself in a whole roomful of people who were thinking about exactly the same issues as me. But, to be honest, I really didn’t know a lot about the Leadership Group, or the AAJ committees, until after Amy’s call. I’m working on getting up to speed! Last year I was honored to be asked to be on the JRF jury, which was an extremely rewarding experience.
- What do you expect will be the most rewarding about being involved in the Leadership Group.
JJ: The most rewarding part will be making connections with fellow professionals in the field, across the continent and hopefully beyond. Fostering learning opportunities for all of us in this field, and drawing inspiration from each other.
- What initiatives within the Leadership group do you want to champion during your tenure?
JJ: I’m very interested in the therapeutic and restorative justice initiatives emerging around the western world. I’d like to help bring this to the forefront. All components of the justice system are positively impacted by these initiatives. We need to think about how to plan and design spaces that support therapeutic justice in our buildings. It’s a fundamental shift.
- What are the challenges involved in being part of the LG?
JJ: Time! We all want to do as much as we can and there are always so many opportunities to do more. I am honored to be working with a very dedicated and passionate group of people. Every single person is engaged.
- How do you hope see the LG evolving overt the next few years?
JJ: I’m hoping we continue reaching out to the next generation to encourage greater involvement, as well as establishing broader worldwide contacts.
An architect based in Toronto, Canada, Julian is recognized as a leading specialist in courthouse planning and design. Over the last 18 years, she has been instrumental in the development of several newly constructed courthouses in Ontario. Recently she was a key member of the design team for a new courthouse located in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Julian’s interest is instilling design excellence into the processes and decisions that shape the architecture of our public realm. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, School of Architecture, is on the executive committee of the Canadian Academy of Architecture for Justice, and is a member of the Leadership Group of the American Academy of Architecture for Justice.
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