Rejuvenating and re-planning the Office of Public Defender at the Cook County Criminal Court Administration Building represent an effort to modernize 1970s-era office environment.

The intense program of numerous teams of attorneys and their support staff was accommodated on three floors in repetitive macro-modules organized on the basis of department divisions. Circulation and visual connections are improved. The new environment is conducive to collaborative work thanks to the clarity and organization of spaces.

Three floors accommodate 300 people  in private two- and three-attorney offices, open workstations, huddle rooms, shared conference and break rooms, and compact file storage. Muted finishes create a calm atmosphere for work concentration, while bright colors are used as accents in public areas. Wall murals depicting natural scenes and mounted plaques with motivational quotes help create identity and a sense of place.