Personal Information:
- Where did you go to college?
KD: University of Kentucky
- What degrees did you earn?
KD: Bachelor of Architecture
- When did you first know that you wanted to be an architect?
KD: In high school when I researched careers and shadowed an architect in Louisville, KY.
Experience:
- How did you become involved in the justice market?
KD: I was working for Brandstetter Carroll Inc. in Lexington, KY and worked on several county jails and courthouses.
- What was the first justice project that you worked on?
KD: The Kenton County Detention Center in Kenton County, Kentucky, which was the first direct supervision jail facility in Kentucky and is now operating a therapeutic treatment program.
- What project have you found to be the most rewarding and why?
KD: The Youth Detention Center in Baltimore City because I was involved from programming through operations and it includes many innovative features including a normalized atmosphere, full medical suite, and a 21st century high school. It is also the first LEED Gold certified facility for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
- What has surprised you most about working in the justice architecture field?
KD: How close knit the professionals in the justice field are, and how similar our stories and obstacles are.
Why Justice?
- Who is your mentor? Describe your mentorship process and how you have become engaged in learning about Justice Architecture.
KD: David Bezanson is my mentor at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and fortunately he has offered to share his knowledge and experience with me as an emerging professional. He has been with the department as the Assistant Secretary of Capital Programs for over 27 years and has built many of the state’s prison facilities, which has allowed him to both understand the history and its various influences, as well as the design and construction details and processes.
- What do you find most challenging about working in the justice architecture field?
KD: The innovation of some of our building occupants that keeps you shaking your head in disbelief sometimes saying, “You cannot make this stuff up.”
The future of the justice market:
- Please describe what you believe is your role in the field.
KD: Our role in the future is to solve the therapeitc treatment aspect of dealing with addiction and mental health issues through the use of building design, treatment services, and programming.
- What do you hope to contribute the justice market?
KD: I hope to do my best to deliver projects that house and facilitate programs that allow its occupants to re-enter society as healthy and happy, contributing members.
- What do you see as the biggest issues or challenges facing justice architects and/or planners today?
KD: Biggest challenge is not being able to predict population fluctuations which can change significantly with changing policitics and policies that change how a building functions and is operated, and addressing technological issues such as drones with a legal solution.