Southlake Department of Public Safety

Southlake, TX

Mason Contractor: Wilks Masonry Corporation
Architect: RPGA Design Firm
General Contractor: Lee Lewis Construction
Suppliers: Acme Brick Company ; Advanced Architectural Stone, Inc. ; Texas Quarries ; Blackson Brick Company ; Cisco Supply

Wall System: Cavity Wall: Brick Veneer/Steel Stud

Project Description

The $29 million dollar City of Southlake Department of Public Safety Headquarters is a stately, sprawling structure that provides plenty of breathing room - a feature that the cramped, outdated old headquarters lacked. Soaring ceilings, a rotunda and grand entry add to the feeling of spaciousness and convey a sense of quality.

This 87,000 square foot facility houses Police, Fire and DPS administration, future dispatch, future holding, and a community room that will double as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as well as Municipal Court and Metroport Teen Court. It includes living quarters, exercise facilities in conjunction with administrative offices and numerous Police Services such as CID and Records. The facility features leading technology capabilities and integration which enhances the public reception, staff effectiveness, and safety of staff and visitors.

The facility is on the same site that housed the original DPS Headquarters. The sloping grade on the site was accommodated for by incorporating a walk-out basement level on the eastside under the 2nd level which becomes the first level on the west side or Fire Services. Like Town Square, including Southlake Town Hall, DPS Headquarters is a mix of Old World charm and modern amenities. The new building fulfills that vision, right down to the brass fire pole, a symbol of fire house tradition that is accessed by doors that open via state-of-the-art technology allowing firefighters to slide from their meeting room down to the engine room in an instant.

There were 6 different colors of bricks, 12 different bonds, split face, pitch face, and large amounts of cast stone. The many different materials and intricate features required optimal attention to detail and thanks to Blackson Brick, Acme Brick, Cisco Supply, and Texas Quarries the look desired was achieved.

Most of the cast stone had to be placed with a crane due to the size of the pieces. The difficulties of setting and maneuvering stones of that weight takes planning and teamwork to manage. Some of the stones placed weighed as much as 3500 lbs a piece. Advanced Cast Stone™s and Wilks Masonry™s experience, professionalism, as well as, attention to quality and detail, made the cast stone™s installation seamless.

Hard work, teamwork, planning and coordination, made this project come together beautifully and will surely become the jewel of Southlake.

Date of Project Completion: December 2009

Awards

2010 UMCA Golden Trowel

Photography by Tim Hill