Project Overview
The Wakefield Public Safety Building currently houses the Police and Fire Departments in approximately 49,300 square feet (SF). Construction was completed in 2003 and included the renovation of a major portion of the existing 1950’s Police Department building, the construction of a large addition that houses detention and building systems rooms, and an entirely new Fire Department.
The Wakefield Police Department provides law enforcement and dispatch services twenty-four hours a day, seven day a week. The department is managed by the Chief of Police. In addition, there is currently: (1) Deputy Chief of Police, (2) Lieutenants, (10) Sergeants, (4) Detectives, (28) Patrol Officers, (1) civilian Administrative Assistant, and (1) Civilian Clinician. The department operates on three shifts. Officers also work as Dispatchers. The dispatch center handles business calls, 911 calls, and provides emergency medical dispatch services with (2) police officer staff members twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Wakefield Fire Department operates as a completely independent entity out of the same Public Safety building. The Police and fire Departments share access to a common first floor Lobby and Community/Training Room, a central stair and elevator vertical circulation, and building utility services. The shared Community/Training Room is also the Town’s Emergency Operations center (EOC), managing Town wide operations during major weather events, town wide emergencies, and training exercises. During emergencies, the EOC is staffed by the Towns department heads and others.
In September 2016 HKT Architects was selected by the Town of Wakefield to conduct a feasibility study for the Public Safety Building. The work included a review of the existing facility, an evaluation of safety and operational aspects of the building, and an evaluation of the current and future space needs for the Police and Fire Departments. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the existing building and site, highlight potential operational hardships, develop a plan to meet needs of the departments occupying the public safety building, make recommendations that take into account both need and cost, and to offer improved services to the public.
The Town’s Permanent Building Committee (“PBC”) formed a Working Group sub-committee to advise the Design Team during the study’s progress. The Working Group included members from the Permanent Building Committee as well as the Police and Fire Departments, all of whom actively participated in the study’s process. The Working Group provided the design team with valuable guidance and insight throughout the course of the study.
The Working Group elected to present their progress and findings to the entire PBC in May 2017. The presentation given by HKT Architects sought to inform the PBC of the study’s findings and associated costs of the potential project which would fix the operational deficiencies of the existing station. HKT Architects presentation included an overview of the process of the study to date, the study’s final proposed design selected by the Working Group, and the estimated probable cost analysis for the selected renovation and addition construction project. At the meeting, the PBC voted to accept the scope of the study.
Residents approved the Public Safety Building expansion project at Town Meeting in May 2018. However, a group collected the required 200 signatures to bring the project to send the question to a town wide ballot. The project was defeated with 1042 in favor and 1118 opposed in a June 2018 Special Election.
The Town Council, recognizing the concerns of residents after the special election in 2018, created a Committee to reassess the project and ensure that additional input was considered, and all options were fully vetted. The committee engaged HKT Architects, Inc. to assist in re-evaluating the original proposal. After extensive analysis of the structure and reviewing the operations of the Police Department, the Committee determined that substantially the same approach as the one proposed in 2018 was the correct one. Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly in June 2020 to approve the project.
The approved design solution proposes reconfiguration and renovation to the main entry lobby and other selected spaces on 3 floors within the Police Administration Building. A new three-story addition will be constructed in front of the Police Administration Building and the existing Sallyport will be extended at the rear of the building.
The construction program will be undertaken while the existing Wakefield Public Safety Building remains fully occupied and operational. Work is expected to be completed in 2 or 3 phases. The plan for phasing and any necessary temporary space will be determined during the detailed design phase to best coordinate with the existing building operations and minimize impacts on Public Safety Staff and the General Public’s use of the building.
In November 2020, the PBC engaged Leftfield Project Management to represent the Owner during the detailed design phase, procurement/bidding, construction and close out of the Project. In December 2020, the PBC re-engaged HKT Architect to continue the detailed design phase, procurement/bidding, construction and close out of the Project. Bond Building Construction was hiring as the project Construction Manager in April 2021.