The Colony Police and Courts Facility
The Colony, Texas
SIZE: Existing 14,400 sf expanded to 40,253 sf
TYPE: Renovation, Addition, Expansion
EST COMPLETION DATE: 2010
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In 1986, the city of The Colony built a 13,500 sf facility to house the city hall, municipal court and police department. With the increasing needs of the city, 12 years later, the city opted to move the city hall into another facility allowing the Police department and Municipal court to expand within the existing building. Within 5 years, both departments began to outgrow their space. The Colony then hired Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects to complete a comprehensive 5, 10 and 20-year Needs Assessment and provide a new design to address the police and court departments’ space needs and the urge for an adequate jail facility to replace a building which had not been upgraded in 20 years.
Wiginton Hooker Jeffry was requested to provide a cost effective, new design that would address space issues and rework existing plans to provide a more efficient layout to best serve the citizens and improve the work environment, security and well being of the staff. Because construction of the project would occur while the facility was actively functioning, WHJ created a “Phasing Plan” which divided the project into three phases. This allowed the city to prioritize and construct as funding became available, and also allowed each department to remain active during construction and renovation.
This proposed design accommodates present and future needs successfully, addressing an efficient and pleasant work environment for the staff, while maintaining a user-friendly facility for the public. Phase I includes a detention area designed to meet the Texas Jail Standards, and is located in the back of the building with a completely enclosed drive-thru sallyport for added security and control. Also included is an adequate size evidence room with high density storage, processing area and fully-equipped Criminal Investigation Lab. The design layout separates the public and the staff circulation for easy access and control. It separates the Police Department functions from the Municipal Court functions, projecting two clearly identified images to better orient the public. Phase II doubles the city’s communications center capacity and space and provides an Emergency Operations Center, a more organized briefing and report room, a training and community room and a designated staff entrance. Phase III, expands the criminal investigation offices, involves redesign of the original council room to function as a court room. The two-story addition includes an interior courtyard with natural light, providing a sense of openness and encouraging direct communication between the different Police operations, thus promoting a “team” attitude. In addition, the court clerks acquired a more efficient set of clerk windows and designated lobby to allocate public congestion, waiting area and a more inviting Public Entry.