Academy of Architecture for Justice

This morning I attended a panel, LEED-J: Developing a Sustainability Rating System for Justice.  The panel discussed the idea of not only developing, but implementing a LEED rating system specific to Justice projects that took into account their special programatic requirments.  The panel discussed three groups of criteria, one for law enforcement, one for courts, and one for detention facilities.  One of the more interesting points was the desire to involve the community more in detention facilities.  From past experiences with correctional facility design I am very curious as to how this could work.  Any thoughts?  Is this a realistic goal for the modern detention facility?  From the viewpoint of the custody officers as well as the general public is this truly a sustainable/desirable pracitice?



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Christopher Hirai Assoc. AIA
Project Coordinator
Nacht & Lewis Architects
Sacramento CA
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After having a discussion with Ken Ricci, FAIA yesterday I felt compelled to add to this post.  The intention of engaging the public and bringing them into the building was intended to apply primiarily to detention facilities and not correctional facilities (prisons).  With a better understanding of the content, I feel that engaging the public and the context of the (typically) urban site.  Community rooms and designing the detention facility as a public building, which it is in although highly programmed and secured, could be very succesful.  Any thoughts?
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Christopher Hirai Assoc. AIA
Project Coordinator
Nacht & Lewis Architects
Sacramento CA
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