The New Westminster Barrack and Garage Building embodies a state-of-the-art facility for the Maryland State Police. The project consisted of a replacement facility for the existing barrack and garage with a new barrack, garage, and a 250-foot high radio tower antennae. The barrack building provides office and working spaces for normal state police functions (including a trooper dormitory area), the County resident trooper program, an extensive criminal investigation area, the latest police communication and computer operation facilities, and other MSP functions. The garage building provides three vehicle service bays, wash bay, communications facilities, and spaces for related activities.

This facility provided by the State was an extremely small site (approximately 4.5 acres) for accommodating the multiple functions programmed (including a future motor vehicle administration building and driver test facility) and was stipulated to continue housing the using agency during the entire construction period. All of this made design very complex. One design feature, which aided in fitting all required State Police and MVA facilities on the site is the erection of a 16-foot high segmental concrete block retaining wall at the rear of the garage building. Without this wall the necessary storm water management ponds and sediment control structures would not have fit on the site. Also, the use of block-type construction saved considerable funds over the original concept plan to erect a reinforced concrete retaining wall.

The use of painted 8x8-inch stacked bond masonry walls in the barrack's hallways resulted in a more attractive appearance and at a lower cost than glazed block or other materials.

Manufacturers/Suppliers
DIV 04: Masonry: Glen-Gery.
DIV 07: Slate Roofing: Vermont Structural Slate.