Courthouse: Judicial Chamber  

Overview

Judicial Chambers are areas used by the U.S. Courts and are typically located on the upper floors of a Courthouse building shell and core structure dedicated for U.S. Court occupancy. Judicial chambers are used for U.S. Court of Appeals Chambers Suite, U.S. District Chambers Suite, U.S. Bankruptcy/Magistrate Chambers Suite, and Visiting/Non-Resident Judge's Chambers Suite. Chambers serve a similar function as a law office practice and therefore require designs that are accessible, productive, functional/operational, sustainable, and secure/safe. See also WBDG Federal Courthouse.

Space Attributes

Sample Judicial Chambers

Typical features of Judicial Chamber space types include the list of applicable design objectives elements as outlined below. For a complete list and definitions of the design objectives within the context of whole building design, click on the titles below.

Accessible

• Private work areas must be adaptable to accessibility. It is recommended that private work areas be made accessible during initial design and construction to avoid more expensive alterations for accessibility in the future. Additionally, spaces should be designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate changing needs of the staff or users of the spaces.

Aesthetics

• Interior finishes should reflect the same design quality of the courtroom. Chambers should be viewed as an extension of the courtroom. Finishes should give an impression of fine quality. Interior finishes should feature Premium Grade architectural woodwork, either wainscot or full wall height.

• Floors must be carpeted. Wall and ceiling design must consider acoustics for internal speaking, light reflectance, and contrast.

Functional / Operational

• The occupancy group classification is Business B-2 with sprinkler-protected construction.

• GSA Acoustical class A for critical noise separation between courtrooms and chambers and for conference spaces within chambers.

• Chambers have communicating stairs (separate from public stairs)—that are judicial restricted stairs with metal pan stair tread and landings at raised floor level. Restricted (Judiciary) elevators are geared traction type with front opening doors and keycard control. Elevator door faces are painted metal. The cab allowance is $30,000 (Oct '00 dollars).

Sample magistrate judge's chambers. Each magistrate judge is allocated a total resident chambers area of 1,410 NSF or 130.89Nm² to be subdivided in any way desired as conditions require. This diagram illustrates only one such potential layout of chambers suite spaces.
Image credit: U.S. Courts Design Guide.

Productive

• Acoustical transfer ducts are provided at all acoustically rated partitions.

• Separate Air Handling Units (AHUs) for Judicial Chambers since they have frequent low-density occupancy when courtrooms are not in use. Judicial Chambers located on collegial suits should be served by an AHU dedicated for that floor. 100% direct exhaust is provided and operated by time clock or building automation system for private toilets and service units.

• Separate controls are provided at the Judge's Chamber with override by the building shell and core BAS. Individual override control of building heating and cooling control system to allow individual chambers to be occupied in off-hours (24/7) to accommodate special workload demands—without running the entire courthouse.

Secure / Safe

• Mitigating design measures are required to protect Chambers from forced entry at adjoining public spaces and should include a comprehensive approach to operational, technical, and physical safety methods.

• Natural daylit windows with operable window treatment to obscure views and ballistics-resistant glazing where line-of-sight risks exist.

Sustainable

• A holistic approach to sustainability and green building design strategies should be considered and planned for the whole building. However, individual spaces should also be designed and planned with natural daylighting, energy efficient lighting, healthy indoor air quality, and Low and/or No-VOC materials, furnishes, and finishes whenever possible. To save or reduce energy use, consider occupancy sensors, dimmable ballasts, and energy efficient task lighting. To increase occupant comfort, provide individual control of HVAC in these spaces, wherever possible.

As technology continues to play an increasingly larger role in the court process, it is important to plan for technology in the judicial chamber as well.

Example Program

The following building program is representative of Judicial Chambers.

JUDICIAL CHAMBERS

Sample Plans

Example Construction Criteria

For GSA, the unit costs for Detention space types are based on the construction quality and design features in the following table . This information is based on GSA's benchmark interpretation and could be different for other owners.

Relevant Codes and Standards

• ICC IBC International Building Code
• PBS-P100 Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service, GSA
• Public Buildings Service Pricing Desk Guide, Edition No. 2, GSA
• Standard Level Features and Finishes for U.S. Courts Facilities
• U.S. Courts Design Guide

Additional Resources

Publications

• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC)
  • Electronic Courtroom/Chambers, An Interim Guide to Courtroom Technologies
  • Guide Specifications for Modification/Installation of Audio Systems in United States Courthouses
  • Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures
  • Judiciary's Human Resources Manual
  • United States Courthouse Design & Construction Process
  • United States Courts Moving Guide
• Architectural Graphic Standards, 12th Edition by The American Institute of Architects, Dennis J. Hall. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2016.
• Building Type Basics for Justice Facilities by Todd S. Phillips & Michael A. Griebel, New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., July 2003.
• GSA
  • Courtroom Lighting—Criteria Evaluation and Energy Use Study
  • PBS-P100 Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service, July 2018.
  • Standard Level Features and Finishes for U.S. Court Facilities, October 1, 1996.
• U.S. Courts Design Guide  (Judicial Conference of the United States), 2007.

Others

• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC)
• The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys has a design guide covering all aspects of courthouse security. (Available for limited use only)
• GSA’s Courthouse Program—ensure the consistent, excellent, and cost-effective delivery of the courthouse construction program.
• The U.S. Marshals Service now has a design guide covering all aspects of courthouse security, as well as security in the Marshals Service space. (Available for limited use only)