LCA Craft and Design cheat sheet

Net-to-gross area ratio for courthouses typically ranges from 0.65 to 0.75; gross area includes circulation, mechanical, and structural space.

Courtroom sizes: small (judge + 6-8 participants) ~800-1,200 sq ft; medium ~1,200-1,800 sq ft; large (multi-defendant) ~1,800-3,000 sq ft; ceremonial ~3,000+ sq ft.

Adjacency requirements: judge's chambers adjacent to courtroom; jury deliberation room near courtroom with secure route; holding cells (detention) with separate circulation from public and staff.

Space standards: per-judge allocation of ~2,500-3,500 gross sq ft (varies by court type); clerk's office ~150-200 sq ft per workstation; public waiting ~50-100 sq ft per courtroom seat.

Functional zones: public (lobby, waiting, restrooms), restricted (staff, chambers, jury), secure (holding, evidence, records), and sallyport for prisoner transport.

Sightline and acoustic separation: separate circulation paths for public, staff, and detainees; no cross-traffic between public and secure zones.

Courtroom technology space: allowance for AV control room (~100-150 sq ft) or integrated rack space; cable pathways and power for evidence presentation.

Growth projection: plan for 20-30 year horizon; caseload growth 1-3% annually; flexibility for future technology and security upgrades.

Sightline rule: judge must see all participants; jury must see witness and evidence; public gallery must see proceedings; no obstruction by columns or furniture.

Security layers: perimeter (exterior), building entry screening, courtroom entry control, and secure holding areas; use of duress alarms and CCTV in all courtrooms.

Accessibility: accessible route to all participant positions; witness stand and jury box must accommodate wheelchairs; assistive listening systems (ALS) required in courtrooms.

Technology integration: evidence presentation (document camera, monitors, annotation), audio reinforcement (microphones for judge, attorneys, witness), video conferencing for remote appearances.

Courtroom layout dimensions: well (bar) area ~600-1,000 sq ft; gallery seating ~15-20 sq ft per seat; bench height 30-32 inches; witness stand ~80-100 sq ft.

Security equipment: magnetometer and X-ray at public entrance; separate secure entry for judges and staff; panic buttons at bench and clerk station.

Acoustic design: reverberation time 0.6-0.8 seconds for speech clarity; sound isolation between courtrooms (STC 50+); hearing assistance via induction loop or FM.

Power and data: dedicated circuits for AV; UPS for critical systems; cable management; conduit capacity for future expansion.

Risk assessment: identify threats (intruder, hostage, bomb threat, natural disaster); conduct security survey; integrate CPTED principles (natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement).

Emergency response: develop Emergency Action Plan (EAP) with evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures; conduct drills at least annually.

Security engineering: access control systems (card readers, biometrics), intrusion detection, CCTV with retention (typically 30-90 days), duress alarms, and intercoms.

Life safety: compliance with NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code); means of egress; fire suppression; emergency lighting; ADA accessibility for evacuation.

Workplace violence prevention: threat assessment team; clear reporting protocols; physical barriers at public counters; training for staff.

Incident command: establish unified command with local law enforcement and emergency services; designate assembly points and accountability systems.

Business continuity: backup power (generator), redundant communications, off-site data backup, and recovery plans for court operations.

Security screening: weapons screening at public entrances; policy for prohibited items; training for security personnel; screening equipment maintenance.

ADA Standards: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design; accessible routes, parking, entrances, and toilet rooms; 36-inch minimum clear width for accessible routes.

Courtroom accessibility: accessible judge's bench (or raised platform with ramp/lift), witness stand, jury box, attorney tables, and spectator seating; assistive listening system required.

Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for approach and use.

Accessible holding cells and detention areas: accessible toilet, shower, and sleeping accommodations; clear floor space for wheelchair turning (60-inch diameter).

Signage: tactile signs with braille at room entrances; wayfinding with high contrast and pictograms; audible and visual alarms.

Service animals: must be accommodated in all public areas; relief areas provided.

Accessible technology: captioning for video proceedings; accessible websites (WCAG 2.1 AA); compatible assistive listening devices.

Training: staff training on disability awareness and accessible customer service; periodic review of accessibility features.

Network infrastructure: structured cabling (Cat6/6A or fiber), dedicated VLANs for court systems, redundant internet, and firewall protection.

Digital evidence presentation: document cameras, evidence carts with monitors for judge, jury, attorneys, and gallery; annotation tools; secure wireless presentation.

Audio/video systems: digital audio processing, ceiling microphones, assistive listening, video conferencing (Zoom, Teams) with PTZ cameras; recording for the record.

Evidence management: digital evidence management systems (DEMS) with chain of custody, metadata, and secure storage; integration with case management.

Cybersecurity: CJIS Security Policy compliance; multi-factor authentication; encryption of data at rest and in transit; regular security audits.

Courtroom control systems: touch-panel control for AV; preset lighting scenes; integrated with scheduling systems.

Accessibility technology: real-time captioning (CART), assistive listening (hearing loop, FM), and video remote interpreting (VRI).

Power and backup: UPS for AV and recording; generator backup for critical systems; surge protection.

Records storage: high-density mobile shelving for paper records; environmental conditions: temperature 65-70°F, relative humidity 45-55%, filtered air to reduce pollutants.

Evidence storage: secure, access-controlled room; separate storage for biological, hazardous, and high-value evidence; refrigerated storage for biological samples.

Chain of custody: documented procedure for evidence transfer; log with date, time, handler, and purpose; secure packaging and labeling.

Fire suppression: clean agent (FM-200, Inergen) or water mist for records areas; early warning smoke detection (VESDA).

Environmental controls: HVAC with humidity control; avoid fluctuations; UV filtration for light; pest control; water leak detection.

Digital records: redundant storage, regular backups, migration plan for format obsolescence; compliance with records retention schedules.

Space planning: records storage growth at 2-3% annually; calculate linear feet of shelving; consider off-site storage for inactive records.

Security: access control with audit trail; CCTV in evidence storage; restricted key control.

Procurement methods: design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager at risk (CMAR), and job order contracting; selection based on schedule, budget, and complexity.

Project delivery: define scope, budget, and schedule; use of GMP (guaranteed maximum price) contracts; contingency of 5-10% for design and construction.

Construction coordination: phased occupancy to maintain court operations; swing space planning; security during construction; noise and dust control.

Commissioning: verify that systems (HVAC, security, AV) perform according to design intent; functional performance testing.

Stakeholder coordination: courts, county, architects, engineers, contractors, and security consultants; regular progress meetings; change order management.

Schedule management: critical path method (CPM); milestones for design, permitting, construction, and occupancy; float analysis.

Quality control: submittal review, mock-ups, inspections, and testing; compliance with specifications and codes.

Closeout: as-built drawings, O&M manuals, training, warranty management, and final acceptance.

Cost estimating: conceptual (order-of-magnitude, ±30%), schematic (±20%), design development (±15%), construction documents (±10%), bid (±5%).

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA): compare initial cost plus operating, maintenance, and replacement costs over the asset life; use present value discounting.

Budget components: construction cost, soft costs (design, permits, fees), FF&E, technology, contingency (typically 10% design, 5% construction), and escalation.

Cost control: track commitments, change orders, and potential claims; earned value analysis (CPI, SPI); monthly cost reports.

Asset management: maintain inventory of building systems; preventive maintenance schedules; capital renewal plan (roof, HVAC, elevators).

Value engineering: identify cost savings without compromising function; consider life-cycle impacts.

Funding sources: general obligation bonds, court fees, state/federal grants; public-private partnerships.

Benchmarking: cost per square foot for courthouse construction; adjust for location and inflation.

Green building standards: LEED v4.1 (or newer) for new construction; energy modeling to optimize performance; commissioning for energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency: high-performance envelope, LED lighting, occupancy sensors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and efficient HVAC (chillers, boilers).

Renewable energy: solar photovoltaic, geothermal, or solar thermal; net-zero energy goals for new courthouses.

Water efficiency: low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and drought-tolerant landscaping.

Resilience: passive survivability (daylighting, natural ventilation), backup power for critical systems, and flood-proofing.

Indoor environmental quality: low-VOC materials, enhanced filtration (MERV 13+), and thermal comfort.

Waste reduction: construction waste management (divert 75%+ from landfill), recycling programs, and sustainable purchasing.

Operations and maintenance: building automation system (BAS) for monitoring; retro-commissioning every 3-5 years; energy benchmarking (ENERGY STAR).