North Providence Public Safety Complex
Manns Woodward Studios in partner with RGB Architects and Schrader Group Architecture were tasked with the design of a new command headquarters for the Police and Fire Department of North Providence, Rhode Island. The new complex features a contemporary design that brings together the combined needs of the Police and Fire Department as well as a courtroom and will compromise of approximately 60,000 square feet over two stories.
The courtroom requires greater public access than public safety complexes that do not have similar features. The courtroom also doubles as a community room to be shared by the townspeople. Members of the public are welcomed by a unique curved canopy and glass entry leading to a highly visible court area. The court’s physical location bisects the major functions of the police and fire department. The design intent of the canopy, public areas and exterior plaza is to connect the two departments together and to draw in the community.
Manns Woodward was specifically tasked with focusing on the 28,000-square foot Fire Department program. The bulk of the program consists of four double deep apparatus bays, 16 live-in bunks, 1400 square foot kitchen-dayroom combination, and 6,000 square feet of administrative-operation office space. An additional reserve apparatus building with additional parking garage will house the reserve fire apparatus fleet and police patrol fleet. The main project challenge was juggling two user groups that own a stringent set of inner workings that are critical to the successful delivery of daily operations. By immediately establishing vehicle response paths, public vs. private program separation, and shared common spaces the design allows both users groups to share a direct relationship with each while simultaneously executing day to day operations in a functional, efficient, and safe manner.
