Redmond’s New Beat

Overview:

The City of Redmond will celebrate a major milestone this week when it unveils its new public safety facility.

Redmond residents will celebrate a major milestone in the community’s growth when the City officially unveils its new public safety facility at 111 N.W. Teak Ave. The ribbon cutting ceremony starts at 10am Tue., Aug. 12.

Through a strong collaboration, the new facility ended up costing $2 million less than expected. *Courtesy: City of Redmond Police Department*

The new two-story building cost $49 million and spans 42,000 square feet. It was built to help the police department handle current and future public safety needs in Redmond. The facility will be fully up and running by Aug. 25.

Police Chief Devin Lewis said the project shows the strong relationship between police and the community.

“I believe this represents the positive relationship we have with our community. The Redmond voters passed this bond by a significant margin in spring of 2022, and I saw that as community support and approval for the Redmond Police Department and the job we do,” Lewis said. “Beyond that I saw it as a significant investment by the voters in their own community, so we made sure we were fiscally responsible throughout the project but also built a building that is state of the art, incorporates the newest technology and is large enough to accommodate significant growth.”

Community investment pays off

The building was funded by a $40 million voter-approved bond in 2022, demonstrating significant community support for public safety improvements. According to a recent press release, the project came in more than $2 million under budget while meeting all design specifications and timeline goals. Lewis credited careful planning and constant collaboration for the project’s financial success. “We took seriously the financial investment made by the public, so we worked hard with our owner’s rep, design team and construction team to constantly evaluate costs, and look forward for potential design changes,” he said. “This constant meeting, evaluation and teamwork between the City, Cumming Group, FFA Architecture & Design, and Pence Construction is what allowed us to stay on time and on budget.”

Mayor Ed Fitch praised both the community’s investment and the project team’s execution. “The new police facility is necessary because of growth. It will be a first-class facility for evidence storage and for police to get the job done. It’s going to be a great public safety facility for the City of Redmond.”

Modern features enhance public service

The new building has several key features designed to better serve the public and improve police operations. These include more space for crime victims to talk with officers, a multi-purpose training room and an outdoor storage locker for property and evidence return.

Lewis said the new facility will make a significant difference for both officers and the community. “I know it will change how efficient and accommodating our police department can be for our Redmond community. This new police department will have enough public parking spaces so people can actually park at the police department and not several blocks away,” he said. “They will have an open and welcoming lobby, with areas afforded to them for auditory and visible privacy in case they are talking to an officer about a sensitive matter.”

Officers get modern workspace

Lewis believes the new facility will improve working conditions for police officers and staff. “Internally I believe it will be a positive change for our officers as they will have dedicated space to operate, make phone calls, work on reports, and a building with natural light, natural materials and technology to support them in being efficient,” Lewis said. “They will have a large physical fitness and wellness center so they can focus on being physically, mentally and spiritually fit, and train and work together as a team.”

The building meets LEED standards, featuring electric vehicle charging stations in both visitor and staff parking areas and solar panels on the roof. These environmentally conscious features reflect the City’s commitment to sustainability while reducing long-term operating costs.

FFA Architecture and Interiors Inc. designed the new Public Safety Facility, and Pence Construction built it. The design team worked closely with police staff to understand their specific needs and values. “This building is built to last for multiple generations, and I believe represents our appreciation and recognition of the significant investment made by the citizens of Redmond,” Lewis said.