Beacon Police

The City of Decatur’s police department and municipal courts were rapidly outgrowing their existing facilities.  Both were housed together in an unconditioned, mid-century that was originally constructed as a high school.  Compounding the problem, the overcrowded complex sat in a flood plain.  After conducting thorough documentation of the existing building, Rutledge Alcock Architects interviewed user groups within the police department and the courts to establish a comprehensive program that included future growth options. The resulting design produced a 33,000 sf new facility complete with 200 person court room, prisoner holding cells, 9-1-1 emergency call center, and administrative spaces for the Police Department.  The on-site flooding issue was resolved by creating two large storm water detention tanks to use the captured water for the facility’s cooling towers and helping it track towards LEED Gold.  The new modern facility also provides the Police Department with a much improved civic identity to citizens of Decatur.