Architect

DLR Group, Inc.
525 N. Cascade, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
www.dlrgroup.com

General Description

Location: Lafayette, Colorado
Date Bid: Mar 2006
Construction Period: Apr 2006 to Apr 2007
Total Square Feet: 22,000 Site: 6 acres.
Number of Buildings: One. 
Building Size: Garage, 1,000; first floor, 21,000; total, 22,000 square feet.
Building Height: Garage, 22’7”; first floor, 9’; atrium maximum height, 26’7”; total, 26’7”. Basic Construction Type: New. Foundation: Cast-in-place, slab-on-grade. Exterior Walls: CMU, brick, curtainwall. Roof: Membrane, metal. Floors: Concrete. Interior Walls: CMU, metal stud drywall.

Construction Team

Owner: Lafayette Police Department
Chief Paul Schultz & Commander Rick Bashor - 1290 South Public Road, Lafayette, CO 80026
Structural Engineer: MGA Structural Engineers, Inc. - 115 South Weber Street, #101, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
General Contractor: R.C. Heath Construction Co. - P.O. Drawer H, Fort Collins, CO 80522
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: M-E Engineers, Inc. - 3425 Austin Bluffs Parkway, #201, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Landscape Architect: Winston Associates - 4696 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304

The City of Lafayette Police Department had outgrown their existing space in the city administration building, and citizens approved a $6 million bond referendum in November of 2004 to pay for a new 20,000-square-foot facility for the police department. 

The new building is located on a six-acre parcel of land adjacent to the city fire station thus providing a City “Public Safety Campus” to localize the impact of emergency response vehicles and sirens to a non-invasive location. This site provides excellent access to all parts of the city and allows for good response times to calls for service. 

Sustainability played a significant role in the design. The site design utilized native grasses for 40% of site coverage. Temporary irrigation will be used until plants are established. After that time the landscaping would be maintained solely with natural rainfall to minimize potable water consumption, as reclaimed water is not available.

Orientation of the building on the site utilized a long southerly exposure incorporating ribbon windows for the perimeter functions. The window sills were at six feet high and the long roof overhang provided ample shading while allowing natural light deep into the spaces. The south exposure also incorporated a high band of clerestory windows running the full length of the main circulation spine. Again, long overhangs protected these windows. Natural light fills the tall corridor and tilted borrowed light glazing was used to bring this daylight deep into the interior non-perimeter spaces.

The public entrance is highlighted by an open structure designed to welcome citizens into the building. Inside, a simple circulation pattern reflects departmental functions. Designers created “zones” based on purpose, yet built in versatility for multi-function use.

A large community room adjacent to the lobby serves the additional purpose as municipal courtroom. The building includes spaces for administration, road patrol, investigations, community service officers and records. Covered parking in the rear protects officers and patrol cars from the elements. 

The building was designed to accommodate growth through 2025, and two areas were designed for future expansion. Office functions could expand out to the west under a roofed area that is currently designated for on-duty patrol vehicle parking. This area is already roofed to permit reduced costs in future encapsulation of this floor area. As staff increases, the support functions of mechanical room and toilet/locker/shower are situated on an exterior north wall with space to permit future expandability. Provision for two future roof top mechanical units was planned for these expansions.

Air handling units are located in a mechanical mezzanine that reduce impact of heat gain or loss on the units as well as minimizing the deterioration caused by exposure to weather related elements. Interior placement also assists with maintenance procedures for staff. Paint, adhesives, sealants, carpet and tile were all specified as low VOC materials. Lighting controls utilized motion sensors for operation to decrease power consumption.

Durable materials (brick and block) were used for the building both inside and out to provide two benefits. First, the City’s maintenance is minimized. Secondly, the abuse that a police facility experiences in day-to-day operations would have minimal impact on finishes thus minimizing future repairs. The brick, stone and metal panel exterior provides a sense of depth and texture. It also respects the character of the existing neighborhood.    

Manufacturers

DIV. 6: Sheathing: North American Bullet Proof. 
DIV. 7: EIFS: STO; EPDM: Genflex, .060-inch Ballasted Roofing System. 
DIV. 8: Storefronts: Kawneer; Automatic Entrances: Stanley; Doors: Curries, Marshfield Door Systems; Overhead Doors: Wayne Dalton.