Although it might seem like law enforcement departments have been around since the very beginning of our country, colonial America had very primitive police forces, if they had them at all.[1] In the early 1700s, big cities like Boston were the most likely to have police, and these police officers usually functioned as night watchmen, […]
By Rachel Hackett Although everyone understands the obvious danger that fighting fires involves, not all people may realize that firefighters also risk getting cancer or other debilitating diseases from exposure to carcinogens. One case that has brought this issue to the general public’s mind is the controversy over funding for the first responders who were on […]
Picture from Project - Police - Troy MI_Lwr Lobby Communities face the need for a law enforcement or public safety facility for many reasons. It can be as simple as the building’s age or condition, a recent incident with a prisoner that made the headlines, a lack of security within or around the existing building, [...] Read More
Picture from Project - Police - Troy MI Exterior 2 Each jurisdiction will determine its own level of security requirements, which in turn will influence building security decisions. When looking at a prospective site for a law enforcement or public safety building, there are a number of security related issues that must be addressed. Here [...] Read More
Picture from Project - Police - Troy MI_Lwr Lobby Public Lobbies of Police Buildings must accommodate a number of interactions between the police department and the public. Some departments utilize sworn officers to staff the Front Desk; others use civilians, either stand-alone, or as a part of the Records Counter Function. The following is a [...] Read More
Picture from Project - Court Bridgeton, MO City Hall and Police Prisoner processing A prisoner processing and holding space must provide a secure area for the intake, processing and housing of prisoners. The space must be designed to process prisoners efficiently, while maintaining a safe work environment for the staff. It should allow for the [...] Read More
The main design objective in designing the Evidence Processing and Evidence Storage area is to develop a logical work flow that properly secures, processes, and stores evidence in a way that maintains the “Chain of Custody,” a prerequisite for a successful use of the evidence used in the judicial process. Work spaces that help facilitate [...] Read More
John Ruskin (1819-1900) had a deep interest in and wrote about architecture. One of his quotations stated: ” No architecture is so haughty as that which is simple.”
People critical of a proposed, new public building often use a common cliché: “It looks like the Taj Mahal.” Supporters of the new building should consider taking this as a compliment to the community’s Building Committee and architect who designed the facility. Why? Because in today’s economic climate, every new project in every community is [...] Read More
