This facility received the Law Enforcement Facilities II Silver award in the 2021 Officer Law Enforcement Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here.
The City of Lakeway anticipated substantial growth over the next decades and wanted to ensure their police facility would meet the current and projected needs. We completed a needs assessment, established realistic projections for departmental requirements for the next 20 years, and started the design process.
The site posed numerous issues due to the slope and the rocky nature of the topography. We designed the facility to use the slope to keep restricted access to one area. 3D models allowed the users to see how the site challenges provided an advantage for the public, secured, and covered parking, along with public and restricted building access. The middle parking tiers enter at a half level in the building with stairs and elevator access to the building's two primary levels.
Additionally, we demonstrated the building flow advantages of the sloped site with stacking diagrams and layouts. The lower level is partially submerged in the hill with space for functions requiring less exposure to outside light, e.g., temporary holding, evidence, staff locker rooms, exercise, and weapons simulations training. The upper level houses those functions that benefit from natural light, e.g., the public lobby, community room, administration, records, patrol, investigations, and dispatch. There is a mezzanine level, which is the staff entry point. Staff and fleet vehicles have secure parking.
City zoning required the exterior design to fit the surrounding building vernacular. The sloped standing seam metal roof and stone and stucco finishes reflect the area's Tuscan influence.
Architect/Firm Name: Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects
