Dec 20th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Adam Rollins

It is becoming increasingly common for public safety, law enforcement, fire departments and other first responders to consolidate their operations in locations that feature leading edge technology and more efficient equipment. Many are situated in locations where training facilities are available, and some have detention centers and healthcare facilities located nearby.

For the same reasons, courthouses and other offices connected to judicial operations are also being consolidated. These types of projects are overdue based on savings and benefits gained through consolidation, technology access, shared training space, and improved operational efficiency.

Since 2014, Plumas County, California, has relied solely on a courthouse built in 1921. The overcrowded building has failed for years to meet modern safety, seismic and accessibility standards. A site search is underway for a location where a new 53,611-square-foot courthouse can be constructed. This new two-story facility carries a cost projection of $100.9 million and it will include three courtrooms. It will also feature a single point of entry to enhance security, attorney-client interview rooms, public waiting areas and spaces for jury deliberations. The pre-solicitation phase is underway, and a design-build solicitation is anticipated in 2025 with construction scheduled for later that year.

City officials in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have acquired a former insurance building for $25.5 million that will be completely renovated to establish a new Public Safety Center. The renovation work has been tagged with a $20 million cost, and when completed, the 288,000-square-foot facility will consolidate the Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Fire Department, Emergency Management and the Real-Time Information Center under one roof. Planning for the renovation is currently underway, but no solicitations will be released until it is completed. Citizens have been advised that all departments will be operating from the new center by the end of 2026.

Photo courtesy of Chevsapher.

The Town of Swansea in Massachusetts has approved a $15.9 million renovation project that will expand the historic Town Hall Annex. This initiative will address critical issues including the removal of asbestos and hazardous materials, foundation repairs and waterproofing needs. The project will consolidate various town departments into a single, code-compliant facility equipped with dedicated meeting spaces, a climate-controlled vault for historical records and enhanced accessibility features to meet ADA and other compliance standards. The design phase is expected to conclude by April 2025, with construction anticipated by mid-2025. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2026.

In November, Washington County officials unveiled preliminary designs for a new Public Safety Building and Judicial Center. The proposed four-story, 70,000-square-foot facility will consolidate major public safety and judicial service groups, including the Sheriff’s Department, parole services, county medical and mental health resources and the court system. The project is estimated to cost between $30 million and $35 million, though the exact total has not been officially disclosed. As a part of the project, the existing structure will be demolished. Solicitation documents will be issued in 2025.

A $105 million renovation in Lewiston, Maine, will consolidate court operations for the Maine Judicial Branch. Currently, the county is served by two separate, aging facilities: a District Court in Lewiston and the Superior Court located in Auburn. The plan involves acquiring and renovating a neighboring structure. When completed, the new center will feature eight courtrooms, at least eight public conference rooms for private consultations and potentially a room designated for dispositional conferences and hearings. The project is currently in the planning stages, with the design phase scheduled to commence in April 2027. Construction is anticipated to begin shortly thereafter, with an expected completion date in October 2029.

The City of Austin is advancing a plan to establish a consolidated public safety headquarters. A 386,000-square-foot facility was recently acquired for $107.6 million, with $13 million allocated for design and renovation. The city’s current public safety facilities suffer from significant structural and mechanical issues and the need to transition to a modernized, efficient operational facility has been a high priority for years. The design phase is currently underway to consolidate the Austin Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services in the new building. The renovation project will also include incorporating sustainable features such as solar panels and rainwater recapture systems. Solicitation documents will be issued as soon as the planning phase ends.

Public safety centers, campuses and buildings are projects currently being planned and/or designed throughout the U.S. These projects will drive high demand for technology and sustainable, energy-efficient equipment.