Sharonville Police Department

Project Narrative

Located near a main road and highway system within an industrial corridor in the city where it is in better proximity to both large business/industrial citizens and the northernmost residential area, the new location for the Sharonville Police Department allows the facility to better engage with the community by increasing visibility and reducing response times.

Welcoming and open community-centered office and meeting areas with lots of natural light were the focus for administration to reduce stress, improve well-being, and encourage camaraderie for those utilizing the space. A safe room and conference space is available for community and internal use. The utility areas feature large spaces tall and durable enough for vehicle processing and large equipment areas, with a focus on user and public safety.

The concept for the structure was to stack the the community/administrative areas into a two-story volume with an attached single-story utility volume on the backside.

The building accommodates future growth and durability, while also responding to the environment by providing community access over a bridged portion of a bioswale and a protected masonry base around the entire perimeter. These design elements meet the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Standards that were a requirement in the new building design.

Community and safety inspired the physical and spatial qualities of the station, and the creation of a façade element that would wrap the perimeter of the two primary spaces created a continuous, unified edge (incorporating exterior security lighting and large windows for natural light).

By focusing the internal design on specific programming that supports the needs of the station and unifying the structure with the external wrap, the perception of the station has changed from a dominant/subordinate model to a welcoming community space.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Building Architecture- Large Scale (>10,000 sf)

Date of Completion

June, 2021

Submitting Firm Name

MSA Design

Project Team

Architect

Nestor Melnyk, Michael Schuster