Thunder Bay Courthouse

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Housing 23 separate user groups, Bird and its team have consolidated the region’s superior court and provincial court into one courthouse. The new building is LEED® Silver certified and consists of 15 courtrooms, underground parking for judiciary and senior staff, a sally port to receive in-custody accused, segregated holding cells, and a space for regional and provincial police personnel. Atypical to many large courthouses, structural steel was used to allow the crew to work through the winters, adding to the building’s acoustic complexities. Bird employed acoustic management systems and rigorous testing throughout to ensure the performance of each courtroom. A unique feature of the facility is Ontario’s first Aboriginal Conference/Settlement Room. The circular design of the millwork surrounds a stone hearth that is used for smudging ceremonies before the start of proceedings. One of the greatest challenges during the project was incorporating three internal circulation systems that meet in the courtrooms, but never overlap. An easy to navigate public circulation system was devised for visitors, while two separate secure paths were created for the safe transport of prisoners and the judiciary staff.

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