SM&W Contribution
Shen Milsom & Wilke (SM&W) provided integrated acoustics, audiovisual, IT, and security design for the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas. The new courthouse includes 25 courtrooms, multifunction rooms, a law library, 4 levels of underground parking designated for staff, and separate parking for both the public and secure judicial parking.
SM&W’s acoustical team consulted on all aspects of the building, including analysis of structure, mechanical, and room acoustics. Acoustical finishes throughout the facility were designed in collaboration with the architectural team in order to provide speech intelligibility and reverberation control, all while conforming to design aesthetic.
Our team was tasked with creating an AV solution to support the dynamic civil court system. All systems have been designed for maximum flexibility and future facility upgrades and utilize a network-based infrastructure to fulfil the requirements of the courts in a cost-effective manner. SM&W worked with the County’s IT staff to provide redundant service for a high bandwidth resilient network, including a fully redundant Wi-Fi network to support the campus. SM&W designed the courthouse with Category 6A cabling to support future network needs, as well as provided radio consulting to support a three carrier 5G Distributed Antenna System.
Because security is of the utmost concern in justice facilities, SM&W integrated operational procedures, electronic control, and monitoring systems to provide an immersive security design. Physical separation and electronic access control devices were designed to provide various levels of security zones within the facility, with interior zones including pre-screened lobby entry, post-screened public areas, restricted areas, and detention spaces.
*Images Courtesy of Gensler