Prison Design Research

Kate Bormann is a third-year graduate student and her thesis confronts mass incarceration in America by using design to better meet our goals for rehabilitation. As part of her research, Kate had the opportunity to visit several facilities in Norway and Sweden, including Halden Prison, which is often called the world’s most humane maximum-security prison. As Kate notes, “The site was designed with such collaborative intentions; their strategies and methods to maintain surveillance revolve around developing trust through human connection... In contrast, the American practice promotes an ‘us versus them’ culture that eliminates all forms of human contact. Human contact is necessary for rehabilitation, and I think, the most powerful principle in Halden’s design.” Kate also had the opportunity to visit other prominent architectural spaces during her trip including the Oslo Opera House by Snohetta, who lead one of our college design charrettes. It is great to see Kate and other students connecting their work to real-world issues and experiences. We love our student commitment to their work and bettering our world, and we’re excited to share some of the places Kate recently visited.