Judging Held for 2022 Officer Station Design Awards

The judging for the third annual Officer Station Design Awards was recently held at the Lisle Police Department in Illinois by a panel comprised of both architects and law enforcement professionals. The group reviewed a total of 12 facilities among five categories, submitted by 10 architectural firms specializing in public safety facilities.

The annual Station Design Awards were created for police chiefs, public safety directors, and municipal leaders to view the trends and innovations in new law enforcement and public safety facilities. Keep in mind, this collection of facilities is nationwide, and prices vary greatly depending on the region. Styles are based on the locale, budget, and agency responsibilities within the community served.

The judges for this year’s program included a 2020 OSDA award-winning police chief, a sergeant currently involved in the construction of a station, and two architects specializing in law enforcement design. Judges were asked to review each portfolio submitted and select their top three choices in each of the five categories based on their experience with operations, security, and designs.

COVID had an impact on this year’s OSDA entries. Several architects responded that due to COVID, the backlog of construction materials and interior fixtures delayed their facilities from being completed. We look forward to seeing those stations entered next year.

Several trends were highlighted by the judges including the Kissimmee Public Safety Training Facility in Florida. The facility, among other features, includes a 20-lane, 50-yard indoor firearms training center, a secured ammo storage room and a gun cleaning room with compressed air hose drops.

Another trend is planning for expansion. Based on a space-needs assessment for the Front Royal Police Headquarters in Virginia, the town purchased a 5.24-acre lot on a superfund site previously occupied by a manufacturing plant. The building will meet the needs of the department through 2040, and the site will allow room for a phased build-out for the next 25 years.

Natural light continues to dominate most entries and maximizing natural light was integral for South San Francisco Police Department in California. The facility offers direct natural light or borrowed natural light for most offices and work areas, including the dispatch area and automated shades.

Some aspects of the entries were questioned by the judges, including the placement of glass walls that could compromise the visibility of staff, and the lack of secure fencing around parking areas for police and personal vehicles. While most buildings did have stone barriers surrounding the buildings, some lacked protection on the sides of buildings.

Please know, every facility in this issue of OFFICER is a winner for the law enforcement department/agency and the community it serves. Improvements in security, wellness of personnel, and community engagement must be a priority for all law enforcement agencies and facilities.

Make sure to check out the December issue of OFFICER Magazine to see the full Station Design Awards section.