In the heart of Florida, in the Orange and Osceola Counties, stands a towering testament to justice – the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. With a trio of courthouses spread over the region, this institution is not only a cornerstone of the Florida judicial system but also a technological marvel. With 48 courtrooms / hearing rooms housed within a single building, it stands as one of the largest – if not the largest – court facilities in the entire state.
Despite its history and size, the Ninth Circuit Court faced a pressing challenge: how to seamlessly integrate modern technology into the aging infrastructure of the Orange County Courthouse. In 2023, they connected with Salamander Designs, a pioneer in premium-grade technology furniture, whose solutions would soon revolutionize the court’s operations, staffing and future-forward flexibility.
The Ninth Circuit’s journey with Salamander began at InfoComm 2023, where they were instantly captivated by the elegance and functionality of Salamander’s products. At the time, they were considering other solutions. What particularly stood out was Salamander’s ability to provide tailored furniture solutions that met the circuit’s specific and diverse needs, from video conferencing and docket information to visitor wayfinding applications. With up to 10,000 visitors a day, making rooms easy to locate and utilize was critical.
“The team at the Ninth Circuit was actively looking at other solutions for their campuses,” shared Chris Discotto, Senior Director of Sales & Business Development for Salamander Designs. “They were impressed visiting the Salamander booth at InfoComm with how elegant the products looked and how the functionality matched what they were seeking. We were happy to offer them a world of options that would meet their needs and could be implemented quickly, and so we were ‘summoned’.”
The Discovery Phase
One of the Ninth Circuit’s primary requirements was the ability to facilitate virtual courtroom proceedings seamlessly and without distractions. With the rise of digital documentation and hybrid testimony, they needed a modern, sophisticated yet user-friendly solution. Salamander Designs’ products proved to be the answer, offering support for a wide variety of meeting software including Teams, Webex, Zoom and more.
In three of the large courtrooms, there are 85-inch Surface Hubs, and the Salamanders Carts are a great solution for them. They are very sturdy and never tip, yet a single person can easily move them about. Their problems for visibility were quickly solved.
Mobility was another key consideration, given the constant need to move large displays and conferencing systems from room to room all day, every day. Salamander’s Mobile Carts emerged as an ideal solution, allowing for easy relocation by a single individual, thus reducing the reliance on support staff.
As the collaboration and conversations progressed between the two, the Ninth Circuit discovered the sheer versatility of Salamander’s offerings, including their Strut Walls and other furniture products. These unique solutions addressed specific challenges such as visitor wayfinding and courtroom docket management, providing self-serve information and streamlining daily activities and operations.
For the wayfinding displays, the Ninth Circuit’s entryway serves as a location for self-serve information like airports have, where visitors can quickly find their courtroom location and information needed. There are already over 28 Salamander Strut Walls in place with more arriving soon. Some older, beautiful pillars in this area are made of substances that can only incur the most minimal drilling and cannot handle heavy weight. Because the Salamander Strut Wall only requires two bolts and all weight is at the bottom, this was the perfect solution. There will soon be one outside every courtroom.
Shared Chris, “These Strut Walls handle large displays for vital information such as court dockets. They almost install themselves thanks to just two toggle bolts that are needed to affix them. The weight is at the bottom of the structure, so the building’s historical pillars remain intact while screens remain sturdy. There are four more going in soon, and it will only take a single afternoon to get them outfitted and up and running.”
The initial deployment of Salamander products in the Orange County Courthouse included a range of systems, from Tables, Strut Walls and Mobile Carts to Cabinets that support all components, storage, displays and more. What impressed the Ninth Circuit most was the clean and elegant installation, coupled with the ease of retrofitting into their existing, older infrastructure. With Salamander, they were able to update the facility to modern times while preserving the historic building and style.
The Court Testimony
In talking with the clients, we were able to understand the transformative impact of Salamander Designs’ solutions on the facility and processes.
For example, the mobility and versatility of the Salamander furniture simplifies daily workload, while helping every visitor know where to go and when to be there. With today’s major uptick in offsite and hybrid testimony sessions, the display and meeting furniture systems are a game changer here. Moreover, the seamless integration of technology ensures a clutter-free environment, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics for the facility.
They were amazed at how easy it was to retrofit spaces. Chris noted, “When Salamander products are delivered, almost everything is ready to install, which saves resources and coordination with outside trades. And in some cases, the products took only one person to put them in!”
Looking ahead, the court envisions expanding Salamander’s presence across their campus. The court staff is also looking at the Salamander Unifi Huddle™ Station with a connected table and cabinet, as this suits their needs for smaller gatherings without compromising on functionality.
The Verdict is In
Salamander Designs not only met but exceeded the expectations of the Ninth Circuit Court, ushering in a new era of efficiency, innovation and trust. As they continue to embrace cutting-edge technology, the team at Salamander stands ready to support their journey towards a more streamlined and dynamic judicial experience across their campus and for every staff member and visitor.
In talking with them, Chris noted, “They are interested in expanding to other buildings. That is proof of supporting the ever-evolving needs of our clients, while bringing them added confidence. It was a true pleasure working with the Ninth Circuit Court to understand their unique needs and provide tailored solutions that met their exact requirements. We’re thrilled to have played a role in helping to transform their courtroom technology and enhancing their operations. The court’s commitment to innovation aligns with our values at Salamander, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting their future needs.”