During the design phase of the project, it was insisted that the new facility engage the community and be a unique approachable building. It was also important that the building function efficiently and allow the public safety needs to be seamless and an asset to the community.
The concept was to stack the more public admin/community areas in a two-story volume, over a basement with support spaces, and attach the single-story, more secure, utility/law enforcement areas on the backside.
The design challenge was to visually connect the two distinct functions. The solution centered on the concept of creating a façade element that would wrap the perimeter of the two primary volumes and create a continuous unified edge.
The design Incorporated principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Standards which led to the incorporation of a bioswale around significant portions of the ground level, as well as a protected masonry base around the entire perimeter.
Community access to the building was over a bridged portion of the bioswale. This resulted in minimizing opportunity for direct vehicle penetration from a potential damage threat, and clearly defined the pedestrian entry to the community and law enforcement functions.
Building Architecture- Large Scale (>10,000 sf)
August, 2021