We are thrilled to have been awarded Blackhawk Technical College’s Public Safety and Transportation Center project. This new facility will provide students in fire, EMS/EMT, auto and diesel technician, law enforcement, truck driver training, motorcycle safety, and other programs with appropriately sized training areas and access to critical training equipment vital to their daily work and service to the local communities. In addition to students, the training center will also offer regional fire, EMT, and police agencies local and accessible facilities for ongoing training and skills development.
In 2019, the College evaluated campus needs and made recommendations about facility improvements. They found that the College’s current public safety and transportation training facilities are inadequate, limit training opportunities, and create unsafe conditions. Ultimately, they recommended that the College explore solutions to these high priority facility needs. Working along with Angus Young Architects, College leaders developed plans for a Public Safety and Transportation center. JP Cullen was then selected as the CM for the project. The new facility will include a high-speed emergency vehicle operator course, fire training tower, water rescue area, semi-truck training course, scenario training village, and other specialized training facilities.
Construction of law enforcement services offer a unique set of challenges. Below are a few case studies on new construction and renovation projects to law enforcement facilities.
Waupun Behavioral Health
Renovations are underway for this behavioral health building. The project consists of three levels of interior renovations, full roof replacement, new custom air handler, improvements to buried utilities, full commissioning package for all installed work. We are replacing all cell doors and inmate shower facilities. One challenge is to maintain walking areas to move through construction site. It is crucial for us to have a good relationship with grounds manager, as everything needs to be delivered at a single gate. Our team then moves materials through the grounds to the project location pallet by pallet with a security escort. One challenge will be to maintain security fences while working on the exterior of building in various locations. We suggested an alternate security fence layout to the owner and design team which resulted in some savings. Our team then can relocate temporary fencing as required.
Milwaukee County Sherriff’s Office & Fleet Maintenance Facility
An opportunity presented itself to streamline Milwaukee’s Department of Transportation by putting many divisions under one roof. In doing so, a renovation and expansion of the existing Central Shop building, previously used by the Fleet Management and Highway Divisions, was necessary.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Building on Watertown Plank Road was demolished because of I-94 expansions. The 17,389 sqft central shop was gutted to accommodate the new headquarters and efficiently add office space with meeting and training rooms. A 16,818 sqft addition was needed to accommodate the additional departments moving into the building. A main challenge on the project was to create a renovated space that was open to the public but also very secure for the sheriff’s department.
Sustainable features also were a priority, such as a 2-story glass south-facing entrance that floods the lobby with natural lighting. A variable refrigerant flow mechanical system with smaller units and taps was connected to the boiler.
Village of Mt. Horeb Public Safety Building
The Village of Mt. Horeb conducted a Feasibility and Space Needs Studies in both 2013 and 2015 which concluded that the fire and police stations did not have enough square footage to adequately service the area. Multiple other areas also needed an upgrade including the electrical and mechanical systems, ADA compliance, bathrooms and lack of workspace for employees. A referendum was successfully passed to fund the construction of a new facility for the village and community.
The new facility houses both the Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department and the Village of Mount Horeb Police Department and features training and conferences spaces, emergency operations center, exercise areas, and a public lobby. The facility serves the Villages of Mount Horeb and Blue Mounds, and whole or parts of the Towns of Blue Mounds, Cross Plains, Perry, Primrose, Springdale, and Vermont.
UW-Madison Police and Security Facility Addition
We completed a 12,240 square-foot addition to the existing police station which included a one level, fully covered and secure parking garage with sally port, motorcycle bay and bike patrol area. The second level interior space includes offices, conference rooms, restrooms, and a break area.
Additional law enforcement service facilities we have constructed include:
- Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center
- Macon County Jail
- Milwaukee County House of Corrections
- Oak Creek Police Station
- UW-Madison Police and Security Facility Addition
- Waupun Behavioral Health Unit Improvements
- Green County Judicial Center
- La Crosse Law Enforcement Center
- Jefferson County Law Enforcement
- Oak Hill Assisted Needs Housing Unit Addition
- Ogle County Judicial Center
- Racine County Judicial Center
- Walworth County Judicial Center
- Rock County Juvenile Detention Center and 911 Communications
- Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center
- Rock County Courthouse
- Janesville Police Department
Law enforcement services have unique challenges. If you are considering an expansion or renovation of your facility, send me an email at Jeannie.cullenschultz@jpcullen.com.
