Utah Judicial System Master Plan for Capital Facilities
Introduction
In 1987, the Utah Court system completed a four volume Utah Judicial System Master Plan for Capital Facilities. Volume II of this Master Plan offered design and space guidelines to be used in the development of court facilities needed to replace existing outmoded facilities and to accommodate future court system growth. Those guidelines established design and space standards to be used for the various levels of existing appellate and trial courts in the Utah Court System and were intended to offer a benchmark for evaluation court facility renovation and construction through the ensuing decade. In conjunction with strategic planning efforts, they were designed to provide a schematic of the shape court facilities in Utah would take in the future.
In the decade since, the design guidelines and space standards have been used effectively as a blueprint in the development of numerous new court facilities and in the improvement and renovation of many existing ones. Nevertheless, during this time changes have occurred related to modification in the organization and structure of the Utah Court System, refinements in courtroom design and security requirements, development of new technologies such as video arraignment and video trial, and changes in federal laws related to public facility access by Americans with Disabilities. These changes have necessitated the update and (where necessary) the revision of the Utah Judicial System Master Plan for Capital Facilities, Volume II.
The fundamental structure of the original Volume II has been retained but significant new detail has been added.
- Section I - Operational and Facility Planning Guidelines - includes expanded goals for an effective Judicial facility, a new listing of Judicial System objectives and initiatives impacting facility planning and a completely reformulated and expanded set of planning guidelines covering the role of the AOC, the need for ADA compliance and the special budget considerations relating to Court facility development.
- Section II - Judicial Design Guidelines - includes new attention to Courthouse siting and occupancy issues, expanded treatment of general design considerations and security, extensive new details on technology integration, and greater focus on Courthouse maintenance and operations considerations.
- Section III - Space Standards - provides a completely new tabular format and dramatically enhanced level of attention to detailed area and design criteria including treatment of finishes, technology, security, furniture, fixtures, equipment, building systems and communications requirements.
The combination of the original work and these updates and additions should support the continued development of high quality court facilities in the State and enhance the position of the Utah System as a national leader in effective court facility planning, design, and construction.