To protect and serve…civic engagement and sustainable building practices

New York’s boys in blue are about to go green. The new 40th Precinct Station in Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx, New York will be the first NYPD station with a green roof. The design of the new building is handled by Denmark’s architectural firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). From the outside, the 40th Precinct resembles a stack of bricks, which pulls some design inspiration from early NYC police stations. Each roof of the stacked building will have sedum plants covering it, with the plants being visible from all floors and office interiors. The building will use non-reflective materials such as sandblasted concrete to optimize the building’s energy performance. With the careful design considerations, the new station will surpass the requirements necessary for LEED Silver certification.

The 43,500 square foot project focuses on accessibility to create a new kind of police station that caters to the needs of ‘New York’s Finest’ and their community. This approach includes the addition of an exercise courtyard with training areas and a climbing wall.

However, as it is a police station and security is important: The intersecting blocks of the design form buffer areas that emphasize the entrances, create clearances between the station and neighboring buildings, cultivate open spaces, and accommodate mechanical and zoning requirements. The buffers allow for windows to be built into the exterior facade. These windows are not visible from the street, increasing privacy and security.

The 40th Precinct will also house the first-ever community meeting room in a police precinct. With its own street-level entrance to the building, the multipurpose space will contain information kiosks for citizens and some special areas to hold classes or events. The design is meant to encourage civic engagement. Inside, the station will boast certain amenities that promote dialogue with the community and provide spaces for officers to reduce stress and promote physical activity.

The unique design of this NYPD station represents a shift in how police are presented in the community. It will serve the needs of the NYPD while strengthening the department’s commitment to community policing. Hopefully, with the addition of this structure, the effects will ripple through and reduce tensions in the neighborhood as well.

BIG

Originally published at www.psfk.com on February 16, 2016.