This facility received the Shared Facilities Bronze Award in the 2021 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
Set on a prominent 10-acre former brownfield site that’s on the southwest edge of downtown, the new public safety center is positioned strategically to serve as a civic anchor for a new mixed-use development.
City administrators, along with police, fire and court representatives, long recognized the need for an efficient and up-to-date facility to support vital municipal operations. The new center co-locates fire, police, municipal courts, emergency operations and dispatch.
The design team pursued strategies that would allow for cost-effective construction. The “wagon-wheel” floor plan places the courtroom at the hub via conventional framing, while the three wings that radiate from the hub are constructed of pre-engineered building components. The wings provide abundant natural light while supporting more productive and efficient operations between departments. There are several hardened rooms throughout the facility for use during severe weather, including the emergency operations center and dispatch (these always remain operational). The site also can accommodate future expansion for additional storage and training.
The new fire station has four pull through bays that accommodate all of the department’s vehicles for the first time, which eliminates the need for firefighters to back apparatus into the bays. A three-bay support building is located adjacent to the apparatus bays for storage and lesser used equipment. There also is dedicated outdoor space for training.
The police headquarters includes an emergency operations center, individual and general-population holding cells, interview rooms, administrative offices, a briefing room, an armory and an evidence processing area that has computer controlled pass-through lockers, which help to maintain a secure chain of custody.
The new court facilities provide secure access for judges and expanded areas for the public to gather and await court proceedings. The courtroom was designed for flexibility and can double as a community meeting or training space, with furnishings and technology that support multiple configurations.
Architect/Firm Name: Dewberry
