Hearing Room

by WBDG Staff

Last updated: 05-25-2007

Overview

Hearing rooms are typically located in office building shell and core structures housing federal agencies and are used for, but not limited to, the conduct of civil (non-criminal) proceedings, typically involving arbitration, mediation, or adjudication of cases where the U.S. government is the defendant. Federal agencies using Hearing Rooms include:

• Board of Contract Appeals for various agencies
• U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Hearing Rooms
• U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Law Judges
• U.S. Internal Revenue Service Appeals Office and IRS Chief Counsel
• U.S. Veterans Administration Board of Veterans Appeals.

See also WBDG Office Building and Federal Courthouse.

Space Attributes

The design of Hearing Rooms involves many of the design attributes found in courtrooms, except that Hearing Rooms have no requirements for prisoner handling; are smaller in scale; and have a variety of agency specific support space requirements that differ from courtrooms in courthouses. Typical features of Hearing Room space types include the list of applicable design objectives elements as outlined below. For a complete list and definitions of the design objectives within the context of whole building design, click on the titles below.

Accessibility

• Lifts at the Witness Stand. Judge's Bench, accessible by additional stop of Witness Stand lift.

Functional / Operational

• The Occupancy Group Classification is Business B-2; Assembly A-3, with sprinkler protected construction and GSA Acoustical Class A for critical noise-sensitive spaces.
• Support spaces attached to the hearing room, agency specific for judicial, records, attorney conference, copy, etc.

Productive

• Raised floor is the preferred system for distribution of critical services (power, voice, data, and HVAC). Raised floors may have low-pressure high induction diffusers and be constructed of concrete-filled metal pans at 24" modules with pedestal and stringer support, with intermediate support. Hearing Room floors include a Well area, which has an 8" raised floor above structural slab with concrete filled pan on pedestals; Judge's Bench with 12" raised dais above the Hearing Room floor; the Hearing Room Clerks area has 6" raised dais above the Hearing Room floor; Witness Stand is 6" raised dais above the Hearing Room floor. The public seating area and Hearing Room well are at the typical raised floor.
• The well area should have lighting designed for document reading by participants. Judge's Bench and Witness Stand to have recessed down light above with compact fluorescent lamp every 10 SF. Dimmable light controls located at the Judges Bench, Hearing Room Clerk station.

Secure / Safe

• Ballistic barriers and secure locking latches are an option, depending on the agencies' risk analysis and are considered a special cost item.

Example Plans

The following diagram illustrates a typical Hearing Room.

Example Construction Criteria

For GSA, the unit costs for hearing room space types are based on the construction quality and design features in the following table (PDF 55 KB, 5 pgs). This information is based on GSA's benchmark interpretation and could be different for other owners.

Relevant Codes and Standards

The following agencies and organizations have developed codes and standards affecting the design of hearing rooms. Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Architects, engineers, and consultants should consider exceeding the applicable requirements whenever possible:

• Standard Features and Finishes for U.S. Courts Facilities
• U.S. Courts Design Guide
• P-100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (GSA)
• GSA Public Buildings Service Pricing Desk Guide, Edition No. 2
• International Building Code

Major Resources

WBDG

Building / Space Types

Federal Courthouse, Office Building, Courthouse: Enhanced Office, Courthouse: Judicial Chamber

Design Objectives

Accessible—Provide Equal Access, Aesthetics—Engage the Appropriate Language and Elements of Design, Aesthetics—Select Appropriate Design Professionals, Functional / Operational—Account for Functional Needs, Functional / Operational—Ensure Appropriate Product/Systems Integration, Productive—Assure Reliable Systems and Spaces, Productive—Provide Comfortable Environments, Secure / Safe—Ensure Occupant Safety and Health

Project Management

Building Commissioning

Publications

• Architectural Graphic Standards, 10th Edition by Charles Ramsey, Harold Sleeper, and John Hoke. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.
• Building Type Basics for Justice Facilities by Todd S. Phillips & Michael A. Griebel. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., July 2003.
• P-100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (GSA)
• Green Courthouse Design Concepts (GSA)
• LEED® Cost Study (GSA)
• LEED® Applications Guide (GSA)
• Standard Level Features and Finishes for U.S. Court Facilities (GSA)
• U.S. Courts Design Guide Judicial Conference