DESCHUTES COUNTY COURTROOM RENOVATIONS

Creating Safe Spaces for Public Proceedings

The 1977 Deschutes County courtrooms were outdated, and the skylights were failing. The Pinnacle + KMB team was retained to renovate and modernize three of the four courtrooms in the Deschutes County Courthouse. Upgrades to acoustics, lighting, technology, seating, and millwork updated the space. New skylights are a central design feature in each room. The upgraded LED lighting is tuned to match the natural light from the skylights. More rigid materials in the front of the courtrooms better project the sound to carry to the back of the gallery. Reformation of the seating and millwork allows more space for staff and responds to today’s court processes. One of the client’s goals was to improve accessibility. Between designing better flow and larger openings at the jury boxes and witnesses stand, the space is now accessible by all. Security improvements include a slightly higher railing between the audience gallery to delay an individual who may charge at participants to give court security more time to respond. “It was a complete success,” said Wells B. Ashby, presiding judge of Deschutes County Circuit Court
Pinnacle has been completing work for Deschutes County for more than 20 years.

Photo Credit: Cheryl MacIntosh