
MADISON FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 14 BY OPN ARCHITECTS IS A 2020 RECIPIENT OF THE AIA JUSTICE FACILITIES REVIEW
The Justice Facilities Review (JFR) is published yearly and documents best practices in planning and design for justice architecture. The JFR offers examples of a broad range of design strategies and depicts the latest trends in the design and construction of buildings that directly support the justice system. These projects demonstrate quality of form, functionality, and current architectural responses to complex justice design issues. The JFR program is sponsored by the Academy of Architecture for Justice, an AIA Knowledge Community. Share your exceptional work with your peers today. Deadline August 19, 2021.
Examples of building types that support the justice system include:
- courthouses
- corrections/detention
- law enforcement
- land ports of entry
- public safety buildings
- border patrol stations
- substance abuse treatment facilities
- transition / step down housing
- forensic laboratories
- forensic behavioral health facilities
- medical examiner facilities
- emergency operations
Essential elements for identifying the success of these projects are:
- functionality
- security and safety
- technology and accessibility
- community impact
- sustainability and economic feasibility (first cost and long-term cost of ownership)
- aesthetic achievements
If you have a unique project that you think meets the requirements and spirit, please submit using the link at the end of this page. Please direct any questions to AIA Honors & Awards, honorsaward@aia.org.
The Justice Facilities Review awards program is administered by the Academy of Architecture for Justice, an AIA Knowledge Community.
Awards Criteria
Citations will be given to projects that demonstrate excellence in all six essential elements of justice facility design outlined above. In addition to the citations a number of additional projects will be selected by the jury for publication in the Justice Facilities Review.
The jury has the discretion to waive the citation award requirement to excel in all six essential elements if they deem the project is exceptional in meeting the needs of all users or provides an exemplary solution to an atypical design challenge. The number of citations and published projects will be at the sole discretion of the jury.
National Recognition and Publication
This program offers AIA members, architects, designers, and justice planners an opportunity to be nationally recognized. Recipient projects reach an audience of court managers, law enforcement officials, sheriffs, public officials, facilities managers, and other client groups through online and in-person programs.
The recipients are first announced to the 1,700 members of the Academy of Architecture for Justice, closely followed by a feature in AIA Architect sent to all 94,000+ members of the American Institute of Architects.
Each project selected by the jury will be showcased with selected imagery and narratives on AIA.org along with all AIA Honors and Awards. Firm-designed gallery boards may be displayed at various conferences, such as the National Association for Court Management conferences and the AAJ fall conference.
Clients and architects will be recognized during the virtual JFR celebration at the 2021 AAJ fall conference.
Selected projects may also be featured in a number of publications, presentations, and conferences, or included in other AAJ-sponsored media presentations. Likewise, recipients may be invited to present their work at AAJ and partner conferences.
Image credits

Credit Line: Wayne Johnson, Main Street Studio