University of Minnesota Public Safety Facility
Wold Architects and Engineers was hired in 2017 to develop a space program and then design an expansion and remodeling of the University of Minnesota Police Department to consolidate the Public Safety Emergency Communications Center and the University Security Services under the same roof as the Police within the Transportation and Safety Building.
The project's high profile site is immediately adjacent to a Green Line light rail stop on Washington Avenue in the heart of campus. While this gave Public Safety a desired identity and presence on campus, the design of a public safety facility with so many risk factors was a challenge to allow mission-critical operations to have continuous operations. The PSECC was designed in a new hardened addition to the facility; critical police operations were pulled internally from the exposed, existing exterior walls; and a new secure holding and interview suite was carved out of the adjacent Washington Avenue Ramp. A public service counter was designed at a new secure entrance dedicated to public safety to prevent intermingling of students, faculty and staff visiting the Parking and Transportation Services on the building's third level from sensitive public safety conversations. All patrol and emergency communications activities are located on the building's street level to ensure a high level of communications and efficient operational flow during normal operations. The police investigations unit, administrative staff and command staff are located on the building's remodeled second floor and the University Security Services - which has access for student safety advocates right off the Gopher Way skyway. A major emphasis of this project was to improve daily operations and allow for large mobilizations during regular on-campus events like sporting events, performances, and commencement. A roll call room with sliding glass doors opening up to the patrol officer report writing room allows large, multi-agency event planning to occur without dedicating single-use space to this function.
