DESIGN

Brunswick Police Department
Monroe County Emergency Operations Center
Gainesville Police Department Training Center
Highlands County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Facility


Brunswick Police Department
Brunswick, Georgia

The original Brunswick Police Department facility was constructed in 1939, followed by an addition of similar size in the 1950's. The newest addition consists of a three-story element providing new facilities for the Records Department, Patrol, Intake and Processing, Administration, and Communications.

Located on the first floor of the new facility is a Community Meeting facility intended to serve not only the local area, but the entire community. Additionally, the existing facilities are to be renovated, bringing them up to the current code compliance as well as increasing their functionality.

Of significant important to the project is the "connectivity" to the adjacent historically important court house and "Queen's Square," one of many of the community squares that provide a unique character t o Brunswick. In essence, this is not just an addition to a Police Facility; rather it is an opportunity to add to the urban fabric by connecting various important elements of the downtown area: Police, Courts and the City Square.

The project is anticipated to commence construction in 2010 and will be funded by a variety of sources, including State, County and the City. As the project proceeds it is the intent of the City to utilize a sales tax exemption program to generate additional project savings.


Monroe County Emergency Operations Center
Monroe County, Florida

This Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is to be located on the island of Marathon in Monroe County, a central location in the Keys.

This is a stand-alone facility funded by the State of Florida and the Federal Government and is being designed for "near absolute" storm events; in essence, for the 10,000 year storm. This is a unique condition that impacts upon several elements of the complex; the elevation of the facility, i.e., above the storm surge level, for impact forces that exceed a Category 5 storm, and for every aspect of the exterior of the structure.

The building is scheduled to be constructed in 2010. It contains totally self-sufficient systems to ensure survivability, including all basic systems designed for redundancy, such as: sewer, water, power and communications to provide for a minimum of 72 hours of continued operation at capability, utilizing self-sufficient systems contained within the structure.





Gainesville Police Department Training Center
Gainesville, Florida

Located in an existing Police Department campus that is comprised of a police headquarters, police administration building, and future firing range. The new Gainesville Police Department Training Facility is designed to be a community oriented building that provides community outreach programs as well as on-site training for the police department. The project is a sustainable building designed to meet the City of Gainesville's LEED criteria as well as their urban design guidelines. The site is located along an old rail line and is integrated with the City of Gainesville's "Rails to Trails" project, which redevelops abandoned rail lines into community bike paths.

The two story 20,000 structure is organized around a light filled large central curved roof structure that accommodates defensive tactics training spaces above the large community meeting space below. A two story mass flanks both sides of the curved roof structure and houses training and administrative areas. A public entry, along the urban street, serves the public meeting space with a secondary public entry located along the brick screen wall that is clad with a vine growing structure to shade the building from west exposure. Overall, bridging the gap between the Police Department, the local Community, and sensitivity to the environment is a vital goal, with this project serving as a model for future training facilities.



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Highlands County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Facility
Highlands County, Florida

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Facility is a part of the overall Master Plan which Architects Design Group has developed for Highlands County for the project site and surrounding area. The project is located within close proximity to the existing County Public Works, Emergency Operations Center, Fire Station, and Health Department facilities and the Agricultural Center, which includes 4-H Club facilities. The project consists of a two story facility of 50,000 square feet on an 8.8 acre site. Both public parking (46 spaces) and secured parking (146 spaces) are provided on site, as well as provisions for a Sheriff's future Impound Lot and site amenities including a fitness trail and exterior gathering areas. These amenities are strategically positioned to provide buffering and barriers to surrounding uses.

The facility has been designed to provide for a secured perimeter through the use of wind and impact resistant construction materials, surveillance systems, controlled access openings, etc., while also providing for an inviting, energy efficient facility for use by the public and law enforcement staff.. LEED design strategies, such as day-lighting through the use of clerestory glazing and light wells, as well as light roofing materials, energy efficient mechanical systems, low water use plumbing fixtures, and the use of environmentally friendly interior finishes, are being incorporated into the project. Departments included in the facility are Sheriff's Administration, including Central Records and General Services, Emergency Communications, Property & Evidence, Criminal Investigations, Uniform Patrol, and Support Departments such as Information Technology, General Services and Training