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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />fossarch.com <br /> <br />September 28, 2023 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Robert Wilson <br />Cass County Administrator <br />211 9th Street S <br />Fargo, ND 58103 <br /> <br />Re: Cass County Courthouse Courtroom <br />Proof of Concept Study <br />Fargo, ND <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Wilson, <br /> <br />We have been requested to provide a proof of concept to remodel the existing IT office suite into a courtroom <br />space. <br /> <br />Below is our understanding of the primary objectives <br />• Provide as large a courtroom space as possible. <br />• Provide separate secure connection to courtroom from judicial staff. <br />• Review limitations for ceiling heights within courtroom. <br />• Provide concept images. <br />• Review required egress. <br /> <br />In reviewing the existing conditions, we have come up with the following concept. See attached plans and <br />images) <br />1. Courtroom size is approx. 1,750 square feet (51’-0” x 33’-6”) <br />a. Include vestibule and additional attorney/client spaces. <br />b. Judge bench platform only at 12” above main floor to minimize accessibility considerations. <br />2. Egress corridor to wrap west side of courtroom along exterior wall. <br />3. Secure hallway placed along north side of mechanical room. <br />4. Accessibility provided to all areas. <br /> <br />Design considerations (see also attached photos of existing spaces) <br />A. Courtroom. <br />a. The courtroom is an assembly occupancy and would have a calculated occupancy of <br />approx. 100 <br />i. Assembly occupancies required two means of egress with 50 or more occupants. <br />ii. Assembly occupancies required door swing to be in the direction of travel with 50 <br />or more occupants and have panic devices. <br />b. Exit access <br />i. Corridor/hallways are part of the exit access and should lead an occupant directly to <br />an exit. <br />1. Intervening spaces – Occupants shall not pass through a space or area <br />unless it is accessory to one another and provide a discernable path. <br />a. The courtroom is not part of the exit access and should not be used <br />as such since doors need to swing in direction of travel and this <br />type of room is typically a secured space restricting entry. <br />c. Accessibility <br />i. Per ADAAG section 206.4 exception 1 and courtroom planning (ncsc.org), judges <br />benches and other work areas do not need to be accessible initially, but must be <br />readily adaptable in the future without major reconfiguration. <br />d. Room height <br />i. There appears to be adequate space to raise ceiling for the well space/bench area <br />to be similar to existing courtroom on the level.