Courts & Justice Project Experience

Geraldine brings in-depth experience, intelligence and passion to the interior planning and design of Justice Facilities. Her design thinking and methodology embrace the streams of functional planning, spatial aesthetics and detailing, to create memorable and purposeful spaces that have a positive impact on the delivery of Justice and acknowledge the variety of human circumstances that affect buildings occupants and patrons.

During the course of her career Geraldine has specialised in space planning and interior design of court buildings, fulfilling lead pivotal roles in the successful design and delivery of several court projects of various sizes and jurisdictions. Projects include the County Court of Victoria, the Supreme Court (Civil) of Western Australia and the Fair Work Commission. Geraldine continues her involvement in court projects, consulting to architects and industry.

Extensive experience has equipped Geraldine with the necessary skills to balance the dictates of function and design with the significant creative challenges that Court buildings present, particularly in designing appropriate settings in the more critical operational areas of the overall complex, such as courtrooms and hearing rooms. This is particularly evidenced in the Supreme Court of Western and the Australian Fair Work Commission; two projects challenged by constraints and physical limitations of their commercial office building location.

Geraldine has an intuitive understanding of the complex and sensitive nature of collaborative processes and excels at interaction with stakeholder groups. Geraldine led the rigorous stakeholder and user group briefing and consultation for the West Australian Supreme Court of Western Australia, The Fair Work Commission and co-led the stakeholder engagement for the Monash Moot Court.

Selected projects

Victorian Specialist Family Violence Courts

Scope: Peer Design Review of Specialist Family Violence Courts

Role: Peer Reviewer

Client: Court Services Victoria

Location: Ballarat, Shepparton, Heidelberg, Moorabbin Frankston

Completed: 2022

High Court of Australia

Scope: Design and documentation for carpet replacement

Role: Concept Design, Design Development & Stakeholder engagement

Architect: DJAS Architects

Client: High Court of Australia Location: Canberra ACT | Value: TBA

Completed: current

Commonwealth Laws Courts Melbourne

Scope: Design and documentation for carpet replacement

Role: Concept Design and Stakeholder engagement

Architect: DJAS Architects

Client: Department of Finance

Location: Canberra ACT | Value: TBA

Completed: current

Moot Court - Monash Law School

Scope: Moot Court within the Law Faculty at Monash University

Role: Courtroom Planning, Concept Design, Design Development and Stakeholder engagement

Architect: JCB Architects

Client: Monash University (VIC)

Location: Monash (VIC) | Value: undisclosed

Completed: 2018

Supreme Court (Civil) of Western Australia

Scope: 26 courtrooms & mediation rooms, 21 Judges’ Chambers, Judicial Library & Conference Facilities, Registry and Administration facilities, Public waiting areas, Court Support Services

Role: Space Planning, Concept Design, Design Development and Stakeholder engagement

Architect: Peter Hunt & Daryl Jackson Architects

Client: Department of Finance/Building Management and Works (WA)

Location: Perth WA | Value: $50M

Completed: 2017

County Court of Victoria

Scope: 46 courtrooms, 72 Judges’ Chambers, Judicial Conference Suites, Jury facilities, Library, Registry and Administration facilities, Custody Centre and Sallyport, Public Spaces, Court Support Services, Remote witness facilities.

Architect: Daryl Jackson, SKM, Lyons Joint Venture

Client: Department of Justice (Vic)

Location: Melbourne VIC | Value: $140M

Completed: 2002. Ongoing works 2003-2020

8 Additional Courtrooms & Security Upgrade 2009

Fair Work Australia Headquarters

Scope: 15 courtrooms, 4 Mediation Suites, 31 Members’ Chambers, Registry and Administration facilities, Public Spaces, Support Services.

Role: Project Leader, Stakeholder engagement, Space Planning, Concept Design, Design Development, Contract Documentation.

Architect: Jackson Interiors

Client: Australian Industrial Registry

Location: Melbourne | Value: $12M

Completed: 2005

Albany Justice and Police Complex

Scope: 3 courtrooms, 3 Judges’ Chambers, Registry and Administration facilities, Public waiting areas, Court Support Services, Remote witness facilities, Police Custody Centre and Sallyport.

Role: Courtroom Planning, Concept Design, Design Development and Stakeholder engagement

Architect: Peter Hunt & Daryl Jackson Architect Joint Venture

Client: Department of Finance/Building Management and Works (WA)

Location: Albany WA | Value: $20M

Completed: 2004

Perth CBD Courts Project – Government Reference Scheme

Scope: 25 courtrooms, 43 Chambers, Registry and Administration facilities, 3 Mediation suites, 25 cell Custody Centre, Sallyport, Public Spaces, Court Support Services, Remote witness facilities, Jury facilities.

Role: Specialist Reports and Courtroom Planning as part of Project Brief production.

Architect: Peter Hunt & Daryl Jackson Architect Joint Venture

Client: Department of Finance/ BMW (WA)

Location: Perth | Value: $12M

Completed: 2003