Dublin Criminal Courts Complex

Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd was employed by Laing O’Rourke in 2006 as lead designer for the Equion / Laing O’Rourke’s PPP bid for the Dublin Criminal Courts Complex.  Ian Ritchie was advisor to the UK Goverments’ Ministry of Justice (formerly Lord Chancellor’s Department / Department of Constitutional Affairs between 1999 and 2004. This was the first time we had participated in a PPP submission. The Criminal Courts Complex is sited at the south-east corner of Phoenix Park in Dublin. The design concept places clear importance on the public entrance which is framed in stone, while the courtrooms are seen as objects within a glazed box, a visual feature from the public spaces within the building as well as from outside. Courtrooms from above, the detainees from below, the public from the south and the jurors from the north. The complicated security issues and separated access for all users of the building has been resolved: judges arrive to the has clearly defined routes and building element within the overall composition. The judges’ accommodation pushes through the roof line and is clad in pre-patinated copper. The Courts Service selected Babcock and Brown with architects by Henry J Lyons & Partners for delivery of the new 22 courtroom complex. It was completed in 2010.