New Police Station at Edge of Campus
The new police station building for Lehigh University fits on a narrow parcel of land at the north edge of campus adjacent to a residential neighborhood. The facility is designed to support extensive technology and to meet strict spatial and security requirements dictated by Commonwealth accreditation standards.
The building’s design responds to its unique wedge-shaped site and also reflects the dual nature of the activities within. The long façade that faces the University is angled to emphasize the wedged shaped parcel. The angle creates widened corridors on both levels of the building. A clerestory window above the dispatch center, which is manned 24 hours a day, allows daylight into the secure space during the day and serves as a beacon to the community at night.
The separation of public and private aspects of the activities within are reflected in the building’s design. The public enters the building on the upper level which houses interview rooms, detectives’ offices, a training room, and the dispatch center. The lower level entry, adjacent to patrol car parking, is primarily for police officers and detainees. The lower level program includes an impound area, holding cells, evidence testing, and secure storage.
Project Team
MEP Engineer: HF Lenz Company; Structural Engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato; Civil Engineer: Langan; Landscape Architect: Langan; Contractor: Boyle Construction; Photography: Halkin Mason