Five Things You Should Know About The New Police Station
The construction of Royal Oak's new police station is slated to break ground this spring. Here are five quick facts about the design of the new police department headquarters that will make it a safer and more efficient community resource for our city.
1. Designed by Royal Oak's Finest
The new police station was designed with brainstorming and visioning input from the entire police department staff. From civilian employees in the records department to the police chief, every employee was asked to offer input on the layout. The result of this collaboration is a design that focuses on operational efficiencies. Patrol officers will spend significantly less time in the station and more time patrolling our community.
2. Safety First
The new building will come with a modern lock up and booking area that is much safer for both officers and prisoners. Ensuring safety in our community is the Royal Oak Police force's number one priority and this updated area will ensure a secure environment.
3. Public Access
Unlike the current station, with its small lobby and narrow entrance, the new facility prioritizes making circulation easier for visitors, including those using wheelchairs or strollers. All service counters in the new facility will be centrally located on the first floor making it visitor-friendly and easier to navigate. Additionally, there is a flexible conference room that will be available for committee meetings and public presentations.
4. Cool Cop Technology
The world of law enforcement is very different than in 1964 when the current police station was built. Technology and slick gadgets used by James Bond in Goldfinger (1964) are no longer the stuff of cinema fantasy but real elements changing the way police officers do just about everything. The new police station will be equipped with technological advancements that were unimaginable in the 1960s when the only modern requirement was a telephone jack. The state-of-the-art facility will allow our police force to do their job efficiently for our community.
5. Police have LEEDs
The design approach for the new building targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards that will save money and help protect the planet.
What's Next?
* During construction, 180-parking spaces will be taken offline to make room for materials and equipment. The city has put together a guide to help visitors navigate alternative parking spaces in the vicinity. The guide can be downloaded at www.rethinkro.com.
* A brand-new parking garage one block west of the construction site is scheduled to bring 581 parking spaces to the area in June.
* The Royal Oak Farmers Market will remain open during the construction. Market officials have implemented free valet parking and shopping carts to offer visitors more options until the garage is available.
* Built nearly seven decades ago, the current City Hall and police station will be torn down when construction is completed. The work required to renovate and fix numerous problems in the older buildings were deemed too extensive and expensive to repair, according to a study commissioned from Plante Moran CRESA.
* After the buildings are demolished, construction will begin on a new two-acre downtown park. Residents have played an integral role in helping direct the look and feel of the new green space.
You can review the site plans and learn more about the police station project at www.rethinkro.com.
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