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Sally Swanson Architects When SSA undertook the complete renovation of this county courthouse and administrative building, also serving Pelican Bay State Prison, the over-arching imperative was to create a highly secure courthouse that could also be a part of community life. A new glass arcade drawn deep into the building formalizes the entryway and features motifs drawn from the surrounding coastal geography. The light-filled arcade serves as an assembly area for community functions and regularly houses exhibits. This architectural form actually boosts the building's functionality by creating a buffer between the administrative areas on one side and the maximum-security courthouse and holding cells on the other. A reorganized program and enhanced view corridors, two fully redesigned courtrooms, and leading-edge security systems provide a previously unknown level of safety for the building's occupants. Photo: interior of Del Norte Courthouse Photo: interior of Del Norte Courthouse |