Northampton Trial Court, Northampton, MA

The trial court site is comprised of three connected buildings built during different eras. The original building was constructed in 1886. An addition was constructed in the 1920s and another in the 1970s. We were asked to evaluate the condition of the masonry and windows on the two newest buildings and to design a new emergency generator for the entire complex. 

The windows were in extremely poor condition and were original to each building. They perform poorly from a thermal and acoustical standpoint, and they leak. When budget allows replacement will be welcome. The challenge on the generator side was where to locate a very large piece of equipment that would make a great deal of noise. The design depended on a robust acoustical enclosure provided by the manufacturer which would limit disruption to the adjacent courtroom spaces. A great deal of coordination was needed between the project managers for the State, the in-house facility managers, the Judge’s staff, and the contractor for successful installation.