The Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) promotes and fosters the exchange of information and knowledge between members, professional organizations, and the public for high-quality planning, design, and delivery of justice architecture.
Post-9/11 security concerns were this century’s first test of our capacity to maintain access to the courts system while protecting public health. Now the pandemic has brought a sudden and immediate challenge, and the longer-term threats of climate change will shape our justice infrastructure beyond the foreseeable future. This discussion will address how designers are working with the judiciary to retrofit courthouses to address the immediate pandemic threat and the unfolding threat of sea-level rise. Using examples from California courts and the federal courthouse in Boston, the panel will discuss: 1) how courts can deliver justice, provide stability to a community, and continue operations during jurisdictional shelter-in-place orders; and 2) how coastal courthouses can adapt to balance flood defense, minimized downtime, and public accessibility.01:00:53