Forward Justice: Architecture Students Present Designs for New Triangle Site

Architecture students at the College of Design are no strangers to creating spaces that focus on equity, representation and social harmony. The ARC 502 studio taught by Pat Rand and Dennis Stallings is no exception.

This year, students were asked to design a new home for the Triangle’s Forward Justice Center as their final project before the summer began. The organization’s local office is currently a rental space; however, they now hope to find a permanent home to service over 2 million residents within the region.

The new Forward Justice Center will be located in either Raleigh or Durham, and proposed designs were required to be positioned prominently within either municipality’s downtown district. Students needed to factor in proximity to government offices, judicial facilities and public gathering spaces, as well as the openness and welcoming atmosphere to clients, collaborators and the public. 

According to the project brief, the Triangle boasts a high quality of life, a strong economy and a wide array of cultural opportunities – yet this may not be the case for all residents. Forward Justice is just one of many important advocacy groups which help residents obtain a fair opportunity for advancement and self-actualization.

A total of 26 students designed and presented their year-end projects which include a plethora of ideas for the new space.

Students designed their prospective spaces with real-world considerations such as ADA guidelines, effects of public transit, staff needs and common areas and storage. The projects completed were purely hypothetical.