The Calgary Courts Centre and Ontario’s Renfrew County Courthouse were the only Canadian facilities included in the third volume of The Retrospective of Courthouse Design 2001-2010, and two of only six non-American projects.
TORONTO
The Calgary Courts Centre and Ontario’s Renfrew County Courthouse were the only Canadian facilities included in the third volume of The Retrospective of Courthouse Design 2001-2010, and two of only six non-American projects.
Published by the National Center for State Courts in Williamsburg, Va., this is the only publication in the world dedicated exclusively to courthouse architecture. In addition, The Calgary Courts Centre was singled out for a special citation.
The collection chronicles the major courthouse design trends of the decade and illustrates the architectural innovations and solutions sought in addressing evolving judicial needs. There are 95 project examples collected in the publication, featuring a full range of court jurisdictions, including federal, state, local and international courts.
Designed by NORR in partnership with Kasian Architecture and AECOM, the $300 million, 1.1 million-square-foot Calgary structure is regarded as one of the most advanced courthouses in the world.
The American Institute of Architects’ Academy of Architecture for Justice Knowledge Community also recognized it with a citation and publication in the Justice Facility Review 2009.
The Renfrew County Courthouse, considered one of the finest courthouses in the country when built in 1866, was expanded and restored in the NORR-designed renovation and addition project, which consolidated the Superior and Ontario Courts of Justice from four locations into one municipally-owned national heritage courthouse and registry office building.
“The Canadian justice system is internationally respected and seen as a model for many other countries,” said NORR’s design principal David Clusiau.
“Our judiciary understands that architecture can reinforce the role of the courts and enhance society’s perception of it with the creation of effective buildings with an inherent sense of dignity.”
Justice is a primary area of expertise for NORR, with more than 35 projects completed at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Construction began in March on the NORR-designed Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse.
That project will consolidate Superior Court of Justice and Ontario court of justice services in one facility.
Founded in Canada in 1938, NORR has offices in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Chicago, Detroit, Sacramento, Tampa, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi.
A member of the Ingenium Group of companies, NORR offers full-service architecture, engineering, planning and interior design services for a wide range of transportation, commercial, institutional and lifestyle projects.
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