Family Justice Center
Your Family Friendly Neighborhood Courthouse
Woodbury University | Studio 4A | Instructor: Matthew Gillis | Arts District, Los Angeles | Fall 2021
The importance a society attaches to its children is reflected in the quality of the architecture of the childcare centers it creates.
The idea of a justice center represents more than a place where its citizens gather and delegate with one another. Today these centers represent the communities they serve, and thus, should be is a place of refuge and sanctuary where everyone can feel safe and protected.
Focusing on the aspect of family justice, this project is directed towards those experiencing domestic violence, abuse, and juvenile matters. Situations and issues that would be considered intimate and private for all those being affected by these issues. The question is: how can architecture participate in the role of these injustices? A space where children and family can feel protected, safe and cared for with a high level of privacy became the overall goal of this project. This is a building that hopes to humbly serve and give back to the community that provides children and families an escape from the dangers of the outside world and provide children a protected space where they can be educated about these difficult issues and feel cared for.
Privacy was a big priority when organizing the program. Firstly, by raising the massing on a plinth, opens up the circulation below and adds a level of privacy for the programs above. Placing the public programs along 4th street and Alameda, act as a buffer from the outside world, to hide the courtroom and create privacy towards the center of the building. The public programs act as a nest for the courtroom spaces and offices. The use of concave walls, and arches has a large influence towards the psychology of children as it provides a protective effect for children, which is a common language that is utilized throughout the entire project.
Below is work developed from the Systems Integration course that was concurrent with the studio. The boards created here consists of site analysis, material research, structural systems, passive and active ventilation systems, and fire and egress.
