Courthouse Planning
Deep Court Expertise. Practical Planning Solutions.
Fentress brings decades of courthouse planning experience to courts nationwide and internationally. Our deep understanding of court operations, design standards, and planning best practices helps courts address complex space and security challenges while maximizing long-term facility value.
Our needs assessments evaluate how well existing courthouses support court operations and accommodate future demands. We translate those findings into practical recommendations that improve functionality, strengthen security, and provide flexibility as needs change.
By combining evidence-based analysis with insight into the daily work of courts, we help create spaces that serve judges, staff, attorneys, jurors, and the public—and support the effective delivery of justice.
Our Approach to Courthouse Planning
Fentress helps courts plan efficient, secure, and adaptable courthouses through comprehensive needs assessments, space programming, and strategic improvement plans. We also serve as specialized court planning consultants to architectural firms, bringing operational insight and planning expertise to strengthen designs and help teams win courthouse projects.
Build a clear picture of current and future courthouse needs by analyzing demographic, economic, and caseload trends that shape court workload and staffing. Assess the courthouse’s functionality, security, and physical condition to identify deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
Translate court needs into a detailed program of requirements that defines the spaces, sizes, and relationships needed to support current operations and future growth. Apply court design standards and operational best practices to right-size the courthouse and make efficient use of space.
Develop and compare alternatives for renovation, expansion, or new construction. Help courts select the approach that best meets operational and security needs, maximizes the value of existing facilities, and provides the right amount of space for the future.
Translate the preferred space strategy into blocking and stacking diagrams that show how courthouse functions can be organized across floors and within the building. Illustrate key adjacencies and circulation patterns to guide design and help court stakeholders visualize the proposed solution.
How We Deliver Results
Courthouse Operations and Real-Time Evaluation (CORE)
CORE uses objective metrics to score courthouse performance across space standards, functionality, security, building condition, and technology. It identifies deficiencies and provides a consistent basis for comparing improvement alternatives, helping courts prioritize investments that deliver the greatest benefit.
Integrated Design Evaluation and Learning (IDEAL)
Developed to support Fentress’s role as an owner’s representative, IDEAL objectively evaluates designs submitted by competing architectural firms against the program of requirements and project goals, helping owners select the design that best meets court needs.
The Fentress Advantage
Bring deep knowledge of courthouse design standards and proven best practices.
Strengthen security, improve the public experience, and enhance court operations.
Use a data-driven approach to establish needs and justify funding requests.
Courthouse Needs Assessment Guide
Discover our comprehensive playbook for conducting a successful courthouse needs assessment, from identifying space needs to
determining the most viable strategy.
Project Spotlight
Let's Talk About Your Courthouse Goals
Whether you’re updating an existing courthouse or planning a new facility, Fentress can help you create an environment that supports justice and community needs.
