Connection
The philosophical shift in justice architecture Meet justice architect Andre Voss
Andre Voss, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP Voss is an Associate at CGL Companies, a comprehensive criminal justice consulting firm specializing in justice facility planning, design, maintenance, and operations. In 2013, Voss started working for CGL and expanded his experience with institutional, medical, and interior projects. He contributes to all phases of design, from planning through concept design to construction management. Outside of CGL, Voss is involved with national and local AIA Knowledge Communities including the Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ). He also serves as president of the NYC Revit Users Group and teaches as an adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology.
Within the first few minutes of our conversation, I was struck by Voss’s passion for his work with justice architecture. While this specific professional niche was not always his plan, Voss has a profoundly deep understanding of the philosophical perspectives of the different people impacted by the design of courthouses and detention centers, and he is using this knowledge to help facilitate change in what many perceive to be a broken system. The following questions and answers give greater insight into Voss’s expertise, passions, and aspirations. Jessica O’Donnell, AIA (JO): Did you take a non-traditional path to become an architect or since you became a licensed architect? Andre Voss (AV): I was born, raised, and educated in Germany, so it took me a while longer to be able to sit for the ARE. By the time my U.S. permanent residency (green card) was approved, I had been in New York City for about 10 years, and my career demanded a lot of time. When I finally found the motivation and made the time, NCARB had trouble accepting my degree from Germany. I took the ARE in New York state based on time I had worked in architecture offices and had to wait until I passed the 12-year mark to receive my license. The
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one advantage of that delay was that the content of the ARE was less a matter of studying and largely a matter of applying the knowledge I had acquired in practice.” JO: What inspired you to become an architect? AV: Initially, my intention was to become a structural engineer. Before college, I completed an apprenticeship as a draftsman and realized that the scope of the architect is much more holistic and interesting. The idea of masterminding the building for all trades appealed to me. JO: What drew you to justice architecture? AV: I was drawn to CGL by the fact that these were two guys who had carved out their niche and made their name in this business. I knew what I could learn from them would be unlike what I could learn from yet another residential mid-rise building. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the fact that in the detention center design, we are the voice of those who do not get to have a voice within the building; we are advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves anymore — for those who have been turned over to the care of the state,
