Letter from the AAJ Communications Chair

The Year in Review:
We have much to celebrate as we close out 2010. At the beginning of 2010 the AAJ faced new challenges as the economic down turn directly impacted the AIA’s ability to support AIA Knowledge Communities. Due to our membership commitment and support we stepped up to the challenge. Under the guidance and support of the AAJ Advisory Group (AG) and with the assistance various committee members, the AAJ is still strong and continues providing opportunities for the sharing and the interchange of ideas relating to Justice.

0While this is the 4^th and final journal for 2010 we are thrilled we did not experience any interruptions in the publishing AAJ’s Quarterly Journal with each issue highlighting original and thoughtful articles as well as the hard work of two AAJ’s committees. I would like to personally thank Lorenzo Lopez, Steve Carter, and Larry Hartman for their time, support and collaboration as communication committee members. I would also like to thank each of the authors that contributed their time, thoughts, and ideas by writing articles and contributing content. In addition, a big thanks to Beverly Prior for establishing AAJ’s Facebook and Linked-In social media web-sites. Please visit them often.

0In November, 221 individuals gathered in Boston for AAJ’s 7^th International Conference on Justice Design – “Designing for Justice: Dignity, Community, Sustainability”. The conference, in partnership with Build Boston, was made possible by the hard work of the AAJ conference planning committee, ResourcePlus Shows and Events, and associated Sponsors. A special thanks to Liz Minnis, our AG Liaison, and her team for overcoming the initial challenges and for planning a successful conference. Refer to “2010 AAJ Conference: Notes and Acknowledgements below for details.

0If you missed the AAJ’s Justice Facility Review (JFR) Banquet in Boston you can order a print publication of the JFR or download a PDF from the JFR web-site. Refer to “In the News” for details. It is a great way to stay up-to-date with justice design trends.

0Two of our AAJ Committees have been hard at work this year. The 3^rd Quarter Journal highlighted the accomplishments of the Research Committee and featured the white paper titled “The Green Guide to Justice” by the Sustainable Justice Committee. The Sustainable Justice Committee is working hard to get the word out about the white paper. They presented at the 2010 AIA Convention in Miami and at the AAJ Conference in Boston. They are slated to present again at the 2011 Conference in New Orleans and an excerpt will be published in the July/August edition of American Jail Magazine.

Advisory Group Update:
This time of year always brings a change to our Advisory Group. A big thanks to Charles Drulis for his involvement and commitment for the past 5 years; and, a big welcome to Catherine Chan as the newest AG member. Catherine, of HOK San Francisco, has dedicated her career exclusively to justice architecture. Her body of work includes courthouse, juvenile justice centers, detention centers, correctional institutions and correctional healthcare facilities.

In Closing:
Again, I would like to express a special thanks to the individuals devoted to keeping AAJ a rich and vital component of the AIA Knowledge Communities. We are always looking for interested and committed individuals to participate on committees. If you are interested, please let us know.

0The AAJ Communications Committee welcomes your ideas and input. Please provide us with your suggestions for future articles and newsletter content. Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Linked-In.

0All the best in 2011!

0April D. Pottorff, AIA
2010 Communications Committee Chair
AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice

[FEATURES]

The Right Environment for Sustainable Courthouse Design
By Jenn Campbell, Assoc AIA, LEED AP
Project Manager, Office of Planning, Design and Construction
Division Of Capital Asset Management
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Articles about sustainable building projects typically discuss how a building was assembled, either in terms of design and construction, or in terms of sustainable materials and strategies used. With regard to public projects, this type of discussion paints only part of the picture because there are influences outside of the building assembly process that are necessary for public agencies to successfully implement sustainable building practices. Where government projects have many stakeholders to mediate, there needs to exist an environment of policy, culture, and economics that directly or indirectly supports the advancement of sustainable design. Two courthouse projects in Massachusetts illustrate this point and also suggest that government practices evolve slowly but pragmatically. Read More.

A Seat at the Table: Hierarchy, Iconography, Anachronism
By Frank Greene, FAIA
Principal, Ricci Greene Associates

0The examples used in this essay are from courthouses visited in a series of tours organized by the Court of the Future Network based in Sydney Australia. The tours included both site visits and interactive discussions amongst judges, court administrators, attorneys, academics, client architects, and practicing architects. For more information about the important activities of the CFN, please see their website at www.justiceenvironments.edu.au or email d.tait@uws.edu.au.

0Courtrooms are the settings for important social interactions with far-reaching consequences. Matters of freedom and fortune are decided in a public ritual that relies upon a broad consensus for validity in a democratic society. The explicit and implicit associations that inform the composition of an American courtroom produce a range of outcomes that vary greatly in supporting the perception of full access to due process. Read More.

2010 AIA Justice Facilities Review
Project Profiles Part 2

0The AIA Justice Facility Review (JFR) is the annual publication of the American Institute of Architects, Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ). The 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.

0The JFR Program offers examples of a broad range of design strategies and depicts the latest trends in the design and construction of justice facilities in the United States. The JFR is a source book for best practices recognizing the year’s best examples of justice design. Read More.

2010 AAJ Conference Notes and Acknowledgements
By Liz Minnis, AG Conference Liaison

0221 Total Attendees of which 62 were Vendors.

0Many, many thanks go to the Boston Society of Architects, especially Billy Craig, Director of Business Development, for immediately and enthusiastically welcoming the partnership with AAJ and Build Boston - we truly could not have done it without them.

0ResourcePlus Shows and Events, especially Sharon Novick, Briana Pontremoli, John Lewinski and Cindy Moriarty, for their guidance, support, patience and humor throughout the planning and the conference.  They did a great job and made the process fun. 

0Moe Finegold, Conference Chair, for developing a rich theme for the conference content, organizing a great group of track chairs, reviewing every aspect of the conference content and logistics and making sure it was all quality all the time.

0Andrea Cohen Gerhing, Scott Hemlock and Ray Greco, three fantastic track chairs who made sure Moe was happy with the workshop sessions

0Ryan Critchfield, who organized some wonderful tours, (although only one had enough takers to actually go forward – we plan to follow up and do the tours with the local NE AAJ)

0Thank you Chief Justice Robert Mulligan and the Administrative Office of the Trial Court as well as the Supreme Judicial Court, for welcoming us and for hosting our JFR/NCSC Banquet at the beautiful Adams Courthouse, and Linda Serino, AOTC and Kristi Sprinkle, CBT Architects, for organizing a wonderful evening.

0Thank you to all our participating Vendors. The AAJ appreciates your continued support and commitment.

0Thanks to all of the presenters and attendees - the conference is so enriched by your presence and participation.

0Thank you to our conference sponsors:

Capital Conference Sponsor ($2,500)
Shepley Bulfinch

Keystone Conference Sponsor ($1,000)
Dimeo -- Finegold Alexander+ Associates Inc -- Gilbane

Pillar Conference Sponsor ($500)
Kleinfelder / S E A Consultants –- CBT -- Leers Weinzapfel Associates, Inc.

[IN THE NEWS]

2010 JFR Publication

0Order print copies of the JFR10 from our print-on-demand company, Lulu. They can be ordered for $19.50 at http://www.lulu.com. Type “JFR2010” in the Lulu search box to locate the JFR publication. Download a free PDF copy of the JFR10 on the AIA website. Learn more about the Justice Facilities Review program and view the archive.

European and International Law Courts Conference 2011

0Barcelona : Luxembourg : Düsseldorf : Berlin
Tuesday 17 May 2011 – Friday 27 May 2011
Register and view tour information.

2011 NACM/AAJ Conference - Call for Presentations

The Academy of Architecture for Justice of the AIA and the National Association for Court Management have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to encourage professional collaboration between the two organizations regarding facility programming, planning and design. As a component of this expanding partnership, NACM has recently reserved four program blocks in their Annual Conference program (to be held in Las Vegas in July of 2011) for AIA/AAJ presentations.

Therefore, the AAJ is now issuing an open Call for Entries for programs to fill these four 90 minute blocks. All submissions will be evaluated by a joint AAJ/NACM committee. More information on suggested topics, audience, presentation format, evaluation process and deadlines. If you are interested, please use the online form and submit by January 26, 2011.

AAJ Communications

0Visit the AAJ homepage on AIA KnowledgeNet website. In addition be sure to join the AAJ Linked-In and Facebook groups.

0To reference archived issues of the AAJ Journal, refer to the links below:
Winter 2010| Fall 2010 | Summer 2010 | Spring 2010 | View the complete archive.

0The AAJ Communications Committee welcomes your ideas and input. Contact April Pottorff, AIA at april@riccigreene.com with your suggestions for future articles, announcements, and journal content.

Member Reviews

Based on 0 Reviews

Average Rating

Read All Reviews | Write a Review

Show

Newest Oldest

Read All Reviews | Write a Review