This facility received the Public Safety Centers Silver Award in the 2023 Officer Station Design Awards.
Official Project Name: Needham Public Safety Headquarters
Project City/State: Needham, MA
Date Completed: February 28, 2022
Chief/Director: Police Chief John Schlittler
Project Area (sq. ft.) 58,838
Total Cost: $44,481,523
Cost Per Square Foot: $756.00
Architect/Firm Name: Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc.
City/State: Foxborough, MA
Phone: (508) 549-9906
Website: kba-architects.com
Design Team: Kaestle Boos: Michael J. McKeon, AIA, LEED AP, Principal in Charge; Todd M. Costa, RA, Project Manager, Police Program Coordinator; Joseph R. Milani, RA, LEED AP, Code/Accessibility Consultant. Consultant Team: Mitchell Associates Architects, Fire Programming; Garcia, Galuska, DeSousa, MEP/P/FP Engineers & Telephone/ Data/Security; Samiotes Consultants, Civil Engineer; ODEH Engineers, Structural Engineer
Project Description
Built in 1931, and upgraded in 1988-89, the existing combined Fire & Police facility was in dire need of overhauling. But, due to Needham’s dramatic population growth, and the increasing demands and expectations of residents and businesses, the 85-year-old building could no longer accommodate the scope of modernization required.
In 2017, Needham began working with the design team to plan a new facility—on the same downtown site as the existing building—without service interruption.
The design team worked closely with police, fire and town officials, along with the design review board to develop a modern public safety facility with a strong civic architectural typology. Multiple design options were studied before arriving at a solution; a state-of-the-art facility with traditional local materials and details—the brick matches the nearby historic, circa 1902 Needham Town Hall.
The building was constructed in two phases, the first within four feet of the existing building, which remained 100% functioning until the Fire Department and Emergency Communications staff moved into phase one of the new building. Skylights help maximize the use of natural light in order to highlight the shared lobby and community use spaces.
The public can enter directly from the street or via the pedestrian plaza, prominently anchored by a memorial to firefighters and police who have made the ultimate sacrifice. A walkway befitting those honored takes visitors through this public garden with contemporary granite seating reflecting the building’s strong geometry.
Additionally, the new three-level facility provides multiple venues for continuous on-site staff training, secure evidence processing and storage facilities, compliant and secure A/V recording systems for interrogation/interview rooms, and station alerting technology.
The facility is universally accessible, energy efficient, and environmentally sound. It provides healthy and safe working environments for Needham’s Police and Firefighter/EMTs, as well as facilitating while controlling, public access and security.