The U.S. Access Board has created the Courthouse Access Advisory Committee to develop guidance material on providing access to courthouses for people with disabilities. As part of this effort, the committee is soliciting “best practice” examples of accessibility in new and renovated courthouse design. If you have photographic examples or other graphics that highlight good examples of accessibility in courthouses, please share them with this committee. The board seeks information on all types of courthouses and spaces within them, including:

• Courtroom spaces, such as jury boxes, witness stands, and judges’ benches
• Judges’ chambers
• Jury rooms
• Witness rooms
• Mediation and counsel rooms
• Holding cells
• Information and service areas such as clerk and cashiers offices
• Law libraries
• Exterior accessible routes, entrances, and drop-off areas
• Interior building way-finding associated with courthouses.

The Access Board will credit all examples used to the designer and photographer. Send graphic examples via e-mail to David Calvert. Call Marlene Walli Shade, AIA, 703-698-9064, with any questions.

Copyright 2005 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved. Home Page