Holding Court in Old Town: A New Courthouse for Alexandria

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dc.contributor.authorMoore, Talia Reneeen
dc.contributor.committeechairPiedmont-Palladino, Susan C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKeslacy, Elizabeth Marie-Frehaen
dc.contributor.committeememberEmmons, Paul F.en
dc.contributor.departmentArchitectureen
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-11T08:01:43Zen
dc.date.available2024-06-11T08:01:43Zen
dc.date.issued2024-06-10en
dc.description.abstractIn the United States, the preeminent ideal concerning the justice system is that all people are innocent until proven guilty. The reality of the system, however, is not so cut and dry. Biases, mental health crises, and inequity all play a part in creating unjust circumstances for those accused of a crime. What role does architecture have to play in the judicial system? The architecture of our courthouses communicates that people are guilty until proven innocent. Movement through the courts is highly choreographed, creating a rigidity and hierarchy that encourages an us-them mentality and fosters a sense of "otherness." What does that communicate to the judge or jury–that this person is less than human? Our modern courtroom form is rooted in Roman basilica form, as judicial proceedings would happen there. It is a highly theatrical, highly structured space with a hierarchy built up in elevation–placing different levels of value on individuals. What would a courtroom look like where everyone, even though they have varying amounts of power based on their respective roles, sees eye to eye? What is the role of architecture in this question? My goal is to design a courtroom and resulting courthouse where, for the duration of the proceedings, everyone has the same level of perceived humanity.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralIn the United States, the preeminent ideal concerning the justice system is that all people are innocent until proven guilty. The reality of the system, however, is not so cut and dry. Biases, mental health crises, and inequity all play a part in creating unjust circumstances for those accused of a crime. What role does architecture have to play in the judicial system? The architecture of our courthouses communicates that people are guilty until proven innocent. Movement through the courts is highly choreographed, creating a rigidity and hierarchy that encourages an us-them mentality and fosters a sense of "otherness." What does that communicate to the judge or jury–that this person is less than human? I am exploring all of these questions and more in my thesis. The proposed building will replace the Alexandria, Virginia Courts building on King Street, which currently hides behind an office building and embodies the rigidity and secrecy of the judicial process. The new courts building emphasizes transparency, streamlines movement, and reimagines the courtroom as a place where people gather at a table.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Architectureen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:41010en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/119386en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectCourthouseen
dc.subjectJusticeen
dc.subjectCourthouse Squareen
dc.subjectTransparencyen
dc.subjectAlexandriaen
dc.subjectAlternative Courthouseen
dc.subjectHand Drawingen
dc.titleHolding Court in Old Town: A New Courthouse for Alexandriaen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineArchitectureen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Architectureen

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