A new 27,500 s/f, high-tech police station constructed by the UMass. Building Authority (UMBA) opened on the campus of University of Mass., bringing attention to the school's renewed focus on campus safety. The architects for the UMass police station is Joslin, Lesser & Associates, Inc.
The facility features a new dispatch center, a crime evidence lab and an Emergency Operation Center. The building has received a 2011 Excellence in Construction Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors and will be the first LEED certified facility on the UMass. Amherst campus.
The $12.5 million facility is located at 585 East Pleasant St. at the intersection with Tillson Farm Rd., across from the Amherst fire department's North Fire Station.
The new headquarters, which will allow for staff growth from 68 to 80 over the next ten years, is equipped with enhanced day-to-day radio interoperability with police departments from surrounding areas as well as the Federal Emergency Agency, the Mass. Emergency Management Agency and Mass State Police. For the first time, the UMA-PD has a crime evidence laboratory and an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for critical management of operations during a campus, regional, or national emergency and disasters.
"This new center for public safety is a model for other schools," said Henry Thomas III of the UMBA and board of trustees." It gives students, faculty and members of the community peace of mind that any situation can be handled safely and securely."
Following benchmarks for green building design, the station uses 43% less energy than a standard building. At least 90% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills to recycling centers. At least 20% of all materials in the building are "Recycled Content Materials." At least 20% of all materials in the building are "Regional Materials" manufactured within 500 miles of site (thus reducing fuel required for transport). At least 50% of all wood products are FSC certified (rapidly renewable resource). Paints, adhesives, and sealants are low VOC products. Lighting and HVAC systems are controlled by occupancy sensors and air quality. The facility uses 40% less water than standard building of the same type.
A "Green" kiosk in the lobby of the station provides visitors with educational information about the building's "green" features and the will exhibit live data regarding the building's energy consumption.
Currently, more than 20 UMBA projects valued in excess of $1.2 billion are under way on all five UMass campuses. These projects include construction of the Albert Sherman Center at the Worcester Medical School, a $432 million research facility. Construction of the Sherman Center will generate $400 million in direct construction spending and create 6,000 jobs. Upon completion, the center will support 1,600 permanent jobs and $264 million in annual revenue.
Other recent UMBA projects include the Mass. Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) in Lowell, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and an academic building in Boston; the Emerging Technology and Innovation Center.
Shown (from left) are: Henry Thomas, vice chair UMass Board of Trustees; Robert Holub, chancellor, UMass Amherst; Stan Rosenberg, senate president pro tempore; Johnny Whitehead, chief, UMass Police Department, and David MacKenzie, executive director, UMass Building Authority.