Delivered as a public-private partnership (P3), the project replaced a 60-year-old police building with a two-story, 44,352-sq-ft headquarters that provides space for patrol, administration and investigations. An adjacent single-story, 24,878-sq-ft support building houses evidence rooms, a forensic laboratory, K-9 kennel and a firearms range.

A value-management process established as part of the P3 model allowed the integrated project team to respond quickly to rising material and labor costs. Incorporating cost-effective design-phase measures such as tilt-up construction helped keep the project within budget projections without compromising program needs or long-term building durability. An early permit package with considerable civil and foundation scopes allowed construction to start four months earlier than with a conventional, single-phased permitting process.

Key trade contractors that were engaged as design-assist partners provided valuable budget and schedule feedback, mitigating potential cost and schedule overruns as design progressed. The collaboration also included an extensive BIM coordination effort that synchronized design, offsite fabrication and installation of critical building infrastructure systems. Preventing and mitigating potential clashes provided for a more streamlined and productive construction process.

Completed on time and on budget, the new police station seamlessly incorporates the dual needs of community accessibility and operational security. The public parking lot on the 6.5-acre site is designed to double as a plaza that can be used for large community gatherings and events. A community meeting room located off the plaza is ringed with an outdoor gathering space behind a secure arcade that wraps the front facade. On the operational side, 8-ft-high solid walls surround the perimeter of the 250-space secure parking lot, with fast-acting bifold gates for quick egress during emergencies.

In addition to its long-term benefits for Salinas, the project served as a valuable learning opportunity for students in Hartnell Community College’s newly established construction management program.

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