CourtsWeb,
is a website that evaluates and documents recent
federal courthouses. It is a decision support tool that allows a
complex set of stakeholders involved with a federal project to
develop a common language and base of experience.
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Opening Page
The user is presented
with three
alternative routes to
explore the contents
of the database i.e.
browse, search, and
compare. A help icon
is provided for
further assistance
Under browse, search, and compare, the user inquires about the contents of
courthouses that are in the data base. Content includes interactive comments
combined with pictorial metaphors.
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Opening Page
The user inquires
about the contents
under “Help”;
Interactive comments
combined with
pictorial metaphors
point to the contents
of each directory
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Browse Page
The major
navigational tool for
exploration of the
website is a map of
the US that indicates
the courthouses in
the database
Each Dot represents a city where a courthouse is located. Dragging the
mouse over the dot will highlight it with the name of the city.
Clicking on it will navigate to the main page of the courthouse. White
dots indicate detailed cases, blue dots indicate abbreviated cases.
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Browse Page
Alternatively, the
user can select a
courthouse through
the QUICK SEARCH list
that also displays
the courthouses in
the database
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Browse Page
Search, compare and
help functions are
available at all
levels of the
navigational
structures of the
database
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Courthouse Level
Structure
Once a courthouse is
selected, the site
defaults to the main
page of the
courthouse, showing
lists and tabs which
navigate to the
available information
on the particular
courthouse
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Courthouse Level
Lists
The different areas
of the courthouse are
organized by
functional zone i.e.
public zone,
courtroom zone, and
private zone. These
zones are presented
in a list at the left
of the screen
A panoramic, interactive 360 degree view of the
main elevation of the courthouse and the
surrounding context
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
Courthouse Level
Tabs
Different types of
information,
including images,
statistics, models,
drawings, and others,
are organized in tabs
at the top of the
interface
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An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
Information
The information page
gives an overview of
the general
information regarding
the courthouse e.g.
construction date,
design team,
construction cost,
etc.
System provides information about procurement and
finishing materials
Program provides information about zoning,
circulation, elevations, art work, etc.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
Program
Clicking on the hot
links on the program
page opens windows
that display analytic
diagrams of the
courthouse - such as
a circulation or
zoning diagram
Scrolling down the page will show
further information about the courthouse
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
Statistics
Statistics provides
areas of functional
and circulation
spaces by floor
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
3D Model
3D model of the
courthouse. Each
floor’s design and
internal
configuration is
shown by scrolling
down the FLOORS
scroll bar to the
right. Clicking on
the further
information hot links
will open a window
with additional
information
Model has been altered for security reasons
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
Drawings
The drawing tab
explores drawings of
the various plans and
sections of the
courthouse; drawings
are described by text
and small thumbnails
for preview
Clicking on the drawing will open a navigational
window with detailed design information in pdf
format (plan has been blurred for security reasons)
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Level
Interactive Plans
Interactive plans are
floor plans shaded to
display public,
private and secure
zones and circulation
Clicking on the plan will open a window
with the possibility of zooming in and out,
along with coloring the different zones and
circulation systems using the icons to the
right
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Site and Context
Information the
context of the
courthouse e.g. urban
conditions, location,
surrounding
buildings, etc.
The window defaults to a panoramic, interactive
360 degree view of the site
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Site and Context
Information
Information on the
context of the
courthouse e.g. urban
conditions, location,
surrounding
buildings, etc.
Program provides information regarding setbacks, adjacent
public spaces, and public art works
Systems provides information about the security system
around the courthouse
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Public Zone
The public zone
contains views of
public spaces in the
courthouse, including
the lobby, jury
assembly, roof garden,
and law library. In
this case the atrium of
the courthouse was
selected.
The window defaults to an interactive 360 degree
view of the zone selected
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Site and Context
Drawings
Site and context
drawings provide
figure-ground maps
which represent civic
open spaces, civic
buildings, and
parking spaces
Clicking on the thumbnails at the bottom of the page
replaces the main map with maps presenting civic
buildings, civic spaces, and parking
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Zone
The courtroom zone
contains information
regarding the
different types of
courtrooms found in
each courthouse. The
elements within each
courtroom are
described through
photos, text, and
drawings.
The window defaults to an interactive 360 degree view of the
courtroom as it looks from the judge’s bench - clicking on the
thumbnails at the bottom displays views from the other elements in
the courtroom
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Information
The information
tab provides
general, program, and
system information
regarding program,
access, site lines,
acoustics, materials,
temperature and
humidity, security,
etc.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Statistics
The statistics
tab provides
areas of
circulation
spaces, the
judge’s chambers,
the gallery, etc.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Interactive Plans
The interactive plans
display the basic plan
of the courtroom.
Information icons
floating in the plan
are linked to brief
descriptions e.g.
location of the
courtroom, dimensions
of elements, etc.
The icons to the right of the plan show courtroom’s
location within the courthouse, dimensions, and
elements
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Elements
Under each courtroom
type, the elements for
that courtroom are
listed, including, bench,
witness box, jury box,
lectern, and attorney
table
The window defaults to an interactive 360
degree view of the courtroom from the
selected element
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Element Information
Information about each
element including work
surface dimensions and
finishes
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Level
Element Drawings
A detailed drawing of
each element showing
dimensions
This drawing shows the detailed drawing of a judge’ bench
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Private Zone
The private zone
contains views of
private spaces in the
courthouse, including
the judge’s chamber,
grand jury room, and
library
The window defaults to an interactive 360 degree
view of the zone selected
Clicking on any of the thumbnails will lead to a different
judge’s chamber of a different courtroom
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Evaluation
Lessons Learned
The lessons learned
page provides general,
program, and systems
Information found within this page represent both positive
and negative comments regarding different aspects of the
courthouse design e.g. architectural expression, acoustics,
access, sight lines, etc
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Evaluation
Lessons Learned
Within the lessons
learned page, one can
also find information
regarding the users’
evaluation of their
built environment
These windows have the users’ comments about the location
of their offices, its design, and the relation of the
courthouse to the neighboring community. These comments
provide a valuable resource for future designs from a
users’ point of view
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Search
The search page
provides for keyword
searching by courthouse
or courtroom criteria.
The page defaults on
the courthouse search
criteria.
The window defaults to the courthouse search criteria
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Search
The courthouse search
page provides for
keyword searching by
defining courthouse
search criteria.
Clicking the search
button leads to the
courthouses matching
the defined criteria.
The courthouse search criteria is defined by selecting
keyword from lists under the categories of # of Courtrooms,
Cost, Built-Up Area, # of Courtrooms/Floor, # of Floors,
Construction Completion Date, and Courtroom-Chamber
Relationship.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courthouse Search
Results
The courthouse search
results page provides
the resultant
courthouses from the
defined search
criteria.
The defined courthouse search
criteria is shown first,
followed by all the courthouses
matching that criteria.
Clicking on the title link
leads to the browse page
of the corresponding
courthouse.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Search
The courtroom search
page provides for
keyword searching by
defining courthouse
search criteria.
Clicking the search
button leads to the
courtrooms matching
the defined criteria.
The courtroom search criteria is defined by selecting
keyword from lists under the categories of Courtroom Type,
Shape, Bench Location, Witness Box Location, Jury Box
Depth, and Natural Light.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Courtroom Search
Results
The courtroom search
results page provides
the resultant
courtrooms from the
defined search
criteria.
The defined courtroom search
criteria is shown first,
followed by all the courtrooms
matching that criteria.
Clicking on the title link
leads to the browse page
of the corresponding
courthouse.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Compare
The compare function
defaults to web page on
the courthouse level.
The user can select a
courthouse on the left
side and on the right
side by clicking on the
drop down menu.
Clicking on the compare button opens a new window
where the selected courthouses are displayed side
by side
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Compare
The compare function
defaults to the main
webpage of each
courthouse; where an
interactive 360 degree
frontal view of the
courthouse is shown
The user can select another courthouse by
clicking on the drop down menu and changing his
initial selection
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Compare
The user can change the
level of courthouse
attributes by clicking
on the drop down menu.
The drop down menu has
the same structure as
the left side bar on
the regular browse page
i.e. it contains the
courthouse level, the
public zone, the
courtroom zone, etc
The user can click on the buttons on top to
change the type of information he/she is looking
for e.g. information, drawings, statistics, etc
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Compare
This is an example of a
user comparing between
the 3D models of two
courthouses.
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses
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Future Compare
function
Within the new version
of the website, the
user can compare the
attributes of a
courthouse to either
one other courthouse,
or to the whole sample
in the data base. More
quantitative analytical
data can be found in
the new version of the
compare function. This
is a sample of the
results that can be
obtained
In this example, the courthouses re being ranked by one
attribute i.e. the gross built up area giving the user a more
elaborate idea about the ranking of a certain courthouse
within a selected sample
An Interactive Multimedia Database of U.S. Courthouses