Tag Archives: Public Safety Facilities

Architects Design Group Exhibiting at Florida Police Chiefs Association Conference

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For the 16th year in a row, Architects Design Group will be exhibiting at the Annual Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) Summer Conference which will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This is the 60th anniversary of the FPCA Summer Conference and the association anticipates more than 250 agency heads will attend this training conference and exposition.

Architects Design Group specializes in the design of Police stations and is committed to enhancing the Law Enforcement community’s ability to provide first class facilities to its citizens. We continually lecture, exhibit and sponsor events at conferences such as FPCA to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of emerging trends, technology and standards.

Come visit us at Booth #36 July 8th through the 10th at the Marriott Resort and Spa to learn more about the services we offer including spatial needs assessments, master planning, site selection, design, construction administration, and grant assistance.

Critical Government Facilities for the 21st Century

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In today’s world we deal with issues never before anticipated…acts of global terrorism, a sensitivity to energy consumption, an international economy in disarray, disruption of technology (the internet) by disgruntle groups and individuals, etc., etc. Many of these we can address, given sufficient time and the commitment of appropriate resources. One area of specific concern is how counties and cities develop facilities to accommodate critical infrastructure. In many instances the “issues” noted above have a direct impact upon these facilities, primarily associated with survivability, hardening, security and similarly related elements. All of these have a direct impact upon facility cost and must now become a point of early discussion when developing project programs and budgets. A Communications Center, as an example, significantly increases in cost, when factoring in the additional expenses of a building that must be designed to resist the dynamitic forces of a Category 5 storm event….or a series of surge waves from an adjacent body of water.

What we have found and what we clearly recommend is that governmental entities should carefully consider the premise of co-siting critical infrastructure services; such as Communications, Information Technology, Records, Fire Administration, Financial Services, Law Enforcement and Emergency Management. Those critical services, when appropriately accommodated in a “survivable” structure, will be there and able to function, before, during and after a catastrophic event. The ability to continue to provide critical services is, and will be, the responsibility that we must endeavor to accomplish.

I.S.K. Reeves V, FAIA
President

Developing Successful Teaming Opportunities for Complex Public Safety Projects

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As a firm that specializes in planning and designing Public Safety facilities, Architects Design Group has found that establishing teams with local architects and engineers has many advantages for all parties involved. As our work is national in scope, we have learned that local involvement has a distinct benefit not only in the selection process, but as the project progresses into design and construction.

In many cases, governmental entities want to see local firms involved in their projects, especially in this time of economic instability and stress. Many times local architecture firms may not have the necessary specialized experience needed for a complex Public Safety project, but they can offer the client immediate local availability. In this case, it is beneficial for local firms to team with a national Public Safety Architect, such as Architects Design Group, that provides specific and in-depth experience with complex projects such as Law Enforcement, Fire, Communications Centers, and Emergency Operations Center facilities. Projects of this type mandate prior comprehensive experience and a clear understanding of such issues as facility survivability and security.

Creating the appropriate team for a Public Safety project is a product of mutual respect for the local community and the complex needs of these specialized and complex facilities. In many respects, it is like a marriage in which each firm commits to the creation of a successful project…..a process that can span two or even three years, depending upon the complexity and magnitude of the project. So, think carefully about the benefits of teaming opportunities, and if the right project presents itself, team with a firm that you would enjoy working with and which will expand your horizons.