Durham Region Courthouse in Oshawa, Canada

July 19, 2011 Category: House, Residential

Designed by WZMH Architects, Durham Region Courthouse is located in Oshawa, Canada. A large outdoor public space, Courthouse Square, acts as the forecourt to the building entrance and creates opportunities for civic engagement. The scale of the main entrance pavilion on the square establishes a sense of dignity, appropriate for the front door of a courthouse. The courthouse elevations are highly transparent, using clear glass with a rich mosaic of white ceramic frit glass panels. Exhibiting a new typology for a typical courtroom floor the design has a ‘back to back’ arrangement of courtrooms that results in short walking distances for judges and staff and makes natural light and outdoor views available to courtroom waiting areas and public circulation.

Providing badly needed space for the province´s judicial system, this six-storey structure houses 33 courtrooms, including associated support space and facilities for holding prisoners for a total of 40,000 sq m facility. For planning efficiency, high-volume functions are located at or near grade.

Durham Region Courthouse Design by WZMH Architects